Our Challenge

95% of the world's 850 million malnourished people live in the developing world.

1.2 billion people live on less than $1/day.

43 developing countries depend on a single commodity for more than 20 percent of their total revenues from merchandise exports.

Despite cyclical upturns, agricultural commodity prices are trending downward over time.

Food industry consolidation has resulted in buyer-dominated supply chains whose expectations with respect to quality, food safety, environmental protection, labor and service are rising.

Small farmers and entrepreneurs from developing countries must raise their productivity, better comply with standards, upgrade their competitiveness, and better respond to the demands of the market.

Our Philosophy

Agricultural growth that is competitive and sustainable is the most effective engine of pro-poor economic growth that will benefit rural areas in developing countries.

Agriculture involves both the science and practice of producing, processing, marketing, distributing, utilizing, and trading food, feed, and fiber products.

Success is founded on natural comparative advantage but secured through competitive advantage.

Sustainable competitive advantage in agriculture requires continual investment in human capital, productive infrastructure, technology generation and transfer, organization, and market access.

While improvement on cross-cutting policy and institutional issues remains important, value and supply chains are the driving force in global food and agricultural trade.