Addis Ababa,Nov 01 /2025 (ABN)
At the 2025 Annual Meetings, the World Bank Group unveiled AgriConnect, a groundbreaking global initiative designed to turn small-scale farming into a powerful engine for sustainable growth, job creation, and food security.
With global demand for food projected to rise by 30% by 2050, AgriConnect sets out an ambitious roadmap to modernize agriculture through innovation, investment, and inclusion.
World Bank President Ajay Banga announced plans to double agribusiness commitments to $9 billion annually by 2030, alongside an additional $5 billion mobilized from international partners. The initiative focuses on scaling up what works strengthening rural infrastructure, enhancing farmer skills, improving land governance, and unlocking private capital by de-risking investments.
Agri Connect also promotes climate-smart agriculture, helping smallholder farmers boost productivity, access markets, and protect their livelihoods through innovative insurance systems and technology-driven solutions.
Key global institutions joined the effort, with the African Development Bank Group, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) pledging to expand financing and support to reach more farmers across emerging markets.
The private sector and tech innovators are also stepping up. Bayer and the World Bank Group signed an MoU to waive intellectual property rights for nitrogen-fixing wheat trials in Africa a move expected to revolutionize soil fertility and productivity. Meanwhile, a World Bank Google partnership will deploy AI-powered tools to help farmers optimize resource use and adapt to changing climates.
From global policymakers to local entrepreneurs, the message resonated across the meetings: collaboration is the key to feeding the future.
As the world braces for rising food demand, AgriConnect stands as a beacon of innovation and partnership, ensuring that agriculture remains not just a source of sustenance but a driver of sustainable prosperity.
