Repurposing Public and Private Finance for Sustainable and Equitable Food Systems

The Food Systems Finance e-course held its second webinar on 3 December 2025, focusing on how public and private finance can be repurposed to drive more sustainable and equitable food systems. Featuring expert speakers from the World Bank Group and the Rabo Foundation, the session provided rich perspectives on redirecting agricultural support and strengthening the financial mechanisms needed to transform food systems.

Dr. Sergiy Zorya, Global Lead for Public Policy and Expenditures at the World Bank Group, highlighted the persistent mismatch in global agricultural support—over 60% of support to producers remains either price-distorting or harmful to nature and human health. He illustrated several tools and policy packages aimed at addressing gaps in food systems intelligence, including improved data collection and sharing, targeted reforms through investment, and country-level diagnostics. He concluded with practical examples, such as repurposing fertiliser subsidies in Africa through e-vouchers, pilot initiatives, and knowledge-impact programmes to stimulate more efficient and sustainable markets.

Mr. Bas Evers, Program Manager Africa at the Rabo Foundation, provided the private-finance perspective grounded in Rabo Foundation’s direct work with smallholder farmers and MSMEs. He shared concrete examples of how targeted interventions and tailored loans can increase impact, and showcased successful programmes across West and East Africa. He emphasised four critical enabling factors for success: knowledge, financial solutions, networks, and innovation.

Below is the full webinar, presented in five parts. Watch the presentations and discussions—and feel free to share your reflections.

Part 1 – Introducing the Speakers

Part 2 – Interactive Session

Participants were invited to respond to four statements—agree or disagree—followed by reflections from the speakers. The statements were:

1. Current subsidies mostly reinforce bad practices in food systems.

2. Current subsidies in food systems distort markets for the private sector.

3. Governments and donors should provide high risk-bearing capital to support blended-finance models needed for food systems transformation.

4. A sustainable, resilient food system is unattainable without a leading role from the private financial sector—but that role is currently insufficient.

Part 3 – Presentation by Dr. Sergiy Zorya, World Bank Group

Part 4 – Presentation by Mr. Bas Evers, Rabo Foundation

Part 5 – Q&A and Discussion

The Food Systems Finance e-course is an initiative of the Netherlands Food Partnership, developed in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research, Fair & Sustainable Consulting, and a reference group of public and private finance professionals.

Supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.