Agriculture and its related sectors directly affect billions of people around the world. The sector employs about 26 percent of the global population, and growth in the agriculture sector is two to four times more effective in raising incomes among the poorest compared to other sectors.
Agriculture also accounts for more than 70 percent of the world’s fresh water consumption and contributes up to 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. While the demand for food is expected to increase by 70 percent to feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050, supply is coming under pressure from shifting weather patterns and demands on land availability. Developing the required infrastructure and improving efficiency along the agriculture value-chain are critical to making a direct positive impact in the lives of the poor. Most of this investment is expected to come from the private sector.
IFC is helping governments leverage the expertise and innovations of the private sector to improve their agriculture sector, from improved grain transport and storage to irrigation technology.