The Asian Development Bank has surpassed its $14 billion commitment to strengthen food security in Asia and the Pacific during 2022–2025 and is now scaling up to a $40 billion agenda through 2030.
The expanded initiative aims to transform regional food systems by integrating climate resilience, private sector participation and improved livelihoods for 190 million smallholder farmers.
ADB president Masato Kanda announced the new targets at the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026. The bank plans to provide $26 billion in additional financing between 2026 and 2030, supported by private capital mobilization and strategic partnerships.
“Food systems in Asia and the Pacific are at a turning point,” Kanda said.
“ADB delivered more than $14 billion from 2022–2025, reaching 62 million farmers and creating over 500,000 jobs. Now we are scaling up to a $40 billion agenda through 2030 to transform food systems so they nourish people, protect nature and generate inclusive rural growth and employment,” he said.
The investment strategy includes $8 billion in Southeast Asia, $7 billion in South Asia and $3.5 billion in Central and West Asia. An additional $7.5 billion is earmarked for private sector operations.
These funds support national platforms such as the Philippines Agribusiness Investment Vehicle for domestic agricultural development.
During the forum, Kanda witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements with the World Food Programme to integrate nutrition into food systems and with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The bank also signed a memorandum of understanding with the AIM for Scale Initiative, teamed up with the Gates Foundation and the United Arab Emirates to provide digital advisory services for farmers.
The ADB is also operationalizing the ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse Facility to integrate low-carbon agricultural solutions.
Other regional efforts include a coordinated approach with the World Bank to support agribusiness in Papua New Guinea and a collaboration platform with the Food and Agriculture Organization.
