Rethinking Agri-Business Investments Through the Pandemic: Futures panel
CASA EVENT
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:
- Identify the needs of SMEs if they are to remain investable options
- Showcase tools and approaches to supporting agribusiness during the pandemic developed by various stakeholders and being considered by impact investors in agri-business;
- Identify evidence gaps and information needs for the CASA programme to support investors through and after the pandemic
- 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.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Máximo Torero Cullen
Dr. Máximo Torero Cullen is the Chief Economist/Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Development Department (ES) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since January 2019. Prior to joining FAO, he was the World Bank Group Executive Director for Argentina, Bolivia, Chile Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay since November 2016 and before the Bank Dr. Torero led the Division of the Markets, Trade, and Institutions at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). His major research work lies mostly in analyzing poverty, inequality, importance of geography and assets (private or public) in explaining poverty, and in policies oriented towards poverty alleviation based on the role played by infrastructure, institutions, and on how technological breakthroughs (or discontinuities) can improve the welfare of households and small farmers. His experience encompasses Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.
Gillian Marcelle, PhD
Blended finance specialist with capital markets and economic development experience.
Steve Nocka
Steve Nocka joined Root Capital at the end of 2018 as its Chief Lending Officer, following a 25 year career in global banking at Bank of America, where he was Managing Director from 2011 to 2018. Based at Root’s headquarters in Cambridge, MA, his primary responsibilities at Root Capital include oversight of lending strategy, product development, and direct supervision of teams across Central and South America, East and West Africa, and Southeast Asia. At Root and for much of his career at Bank of America, Nocka has been primarily focused on commodity finance in the developing world, and as such is familiar with airports in most corners of the world, which is helpful in his current role.
David Laborde
Dr. David Laborde Debucquet joined IFPRI, Washington DC, in 2007. He is a Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade and Institutions Division and the Theme Leader on Macroeconomics and Trade for IFPRI. His research interests include globalization, international trade, measurement and modeling of protectionism, multilateral and regional trade liberalization as well as environmental issues (climate change, biofuels). . Recently, he has been focusing on costing the roadmap to achieving SDG2 in a globalized context while considering the role of goods, capital, and migration flows.
Julian Peach
Julian Peach is a partnerships, strategy and agricultural market systems expert with almost thirty years of management and technical experience working to help businesses to grow together with smallholder supply and distribution chains. He has experience with most agricultural input and output and service markets. He has particular skills in facilitating and brokering the way for businesses to achieve transformative, sustainable success at scale. His single motivation is to help rural people to improve their lives.
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DOWNLOADS
Here you can see the list of downloads for the event (click to download)