Rethinking Agri-Business Investments Through the Pandemic: Futures panel

The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness programme (CASA) programme is hosting “Rethinking Agri-Business Investments Through the Pandemic”, a series of virtual convenings unpacking the response to COVID-19 for investors and SMEs in emerging markets.

The series of virtual convenings is designed for investors, investment support stakeholders and commentators in the agribusiness space to share thinking and efforts to consolidate, innovate and adapt in light of the global pandemic. The virtual events are not expected to provide definitive answers but instead to provide a platform for structured sharing and reflection, in response to the issues exercising the investor community and agribusiness sector.

The e-conference series is designed to:

1. Identify the needs of SMEs if they are to remain investable options
2. Showcase tools and approaches to supporting agribusiness during the pandemic developed by various stakeholders and being considered by impact investors in agri-business;
3. Identify evidence gaps and information needs for the CASA programme to support investors through and after the pandemic
4. Map as far as possible investment opportunities emerging from disruptive innovation

What happens after the curve is flattened and the economy is reactivated? How long will it take for business activity in general and supply chains in particular to get back to normal? Will the supply chains that were in place before the crisis be reinstated or will there be a fundamental shift in trade flows? Will a global recession have an impact on demand for particular types of food? Although it feels that recovery may be a long way off at present, it is important to look beyond the current crisis to identify investments that could accelerate the recovery. This is particularly important for smallholders and agribusinesses in developing countries where there is no public sector support.