PANEL 1 - Scaling up finance to transform agrifood systems: accelerating opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

I am honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the G77 and China.

At the outset, I wish to thank the panelists for their insightful contributions to this interactive dialogue.

Enhancing agrifood systems into efficient, inclusive, and resilient systems is central to poverty eradication and sustainable development as well as to address the root causes of hunger and all forms of malnutrition. For developing countries, agrifood systems are also a major source of employment, livelihoods, and structural transformation, and as such, drivers of development and economic prosperity.

However, financing gaps remain wide and persistent, with international financing for food security remaining significantly below the levels required to address the growing impacts of disasters and climate variability. The Group underscores that scaled-up, predictable, and accessible financing -including climate finance- is indispensable. We call upon international financial institutions to find urgent, affordable, and timely solutions to support developing countries, particularly those highly indebted. Multilateral development banks must strengthen support in alignment with national priorities, while fully respecting national ownership. There is no "one-size-fits-all" pathway to improvement or transformation.

The Group recognizes that public development finance remains critical and notes the complementary role that public sector-led blended finance can play in crowding in critical private capital for agrifood systems, particularly in last-mile financing. Such approaches must be transparent, accountable, and demonstrably aligned with development outcomes, particularly for smallholders, women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and rural micro, small and medium enterprises, while remaining consistent with relevant international rules and commitments.

The Group calls for the strengthening of agrifood systems through an inclusive approach and emphasizes the need to revitalize the agriculture sector and promote rural development. By scaling up investments in agricultural education, digital literacy, entrepreneurship and information and communications technology, and through the facilitation of agricultural trade, we can create decent jobs for young people, ensuring food security and nutrition in a sustainable manner. Financial inclusion is essential. We must ensure that small-scale producers have access to affordable credit and risk-management tools.

The group calls for increased participation and access of developing countries to emerging technologies, including Artificial intelligence, and to further expand capacity building programs in agro-technology. We also reaffirm the need to significantly increase investment in research and innovation in food, nutrition and agriculture, in order to enhance productivity, sustainability and resilience.

Finally, the Group reiterates its deep concern over the adverse impact of unilateral coercive measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, which hinder the capacity of affected developing countries to improve their agrifood systems, and calls for the immediate cessation of these measures.

With adequate means of implementation and respect for national priorities, agrifood systems can become powerful engines for inclusive growth, fostering entrepreneurship and decent employment for all.

I thank you.