NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Following a successful launch in December 2023 alongside COP28, the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit returns to Dubai on December 8-9, 2025, as a strategic platform to build a resilient agri-food system in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

The World Agri-Tech series takes place around the globe in London, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore and Mexico City. The summits draw together growers, agribusinesses, technology providers, start-ups and investors to identify solutions with the potential to build a more sustainable, resilient food production system – and to forge the right partnerships to bring these solutions to market.

Key summit sessions will focus on desert farming, including innovative approaches to regenerative agriculture in arid climates, high-tech vertical farming and land-based aquaculture.

As 300+ of the most influential leaders in agriculture across the MEASA region convene for the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai, energetic conversations and dynamic panel discussions will showcase investment opportunities, promote partnership and collaboration, and position sustainable farming at the forefront of the policy agenda

As COP30 talks progress, the conversation must shift from policy to execution. A backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, rising climate impacts and mounting pressure on public budgets, makes this harder but not impossible. The Baku-to-Belém Roadmap sets an ambitious target of mobilising $1.3 trillion annually for developing countries by 2035. This signals a decisive shift towards frameworks that prioritise private sector participation.

Institutional investors are showing growing appetite for climate-linked opportunities in emerging markets, driven by long-term, predictable returns and portfolio diversification. However, barriers including risk perception, regulatory constraints and a shortage of investable products at scale, persist. Development finance institutions and multilateral banks are responding with blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms designed to align with institutional requirements.

The greatest constraint remains pipeline. Too few bankable projects meet both development priorities and investor risk-return expectations. Building that pipeline demands early-stage investment, regulatory reform and capacity building – all areas where public and private investors must collaborate.

Join us as we explore the barriers to investment and the components needed to mobilise capital at scale to meet climate and development needs.

Speakers include:
Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director, Head of Climate, Diversity and Advisory, British International Investment
Jesse Baver, Head of Innovative Finance for Mobilisation, British International Investment
Jo Holden, Global Head of Investment Research, Mercer
Alessandra Nibbio, Head of Blended Finance, BlueOrchard
Manfred Schepers, Chief Executive Officer, ILX Fund

Time: 10:00 AM ET