IFAD and Italy’s BF S.p.A. Partner to Boost Sustainable Agriculture in Africa

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and BF S.p.A., Italy's largest listed agri-industrial group, have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore a strategic partnership to promote sustainable agricultural development in developing countries, with a special focus on Africa's rural transformation and food security.

The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Dakar Business Forum in Senegal, marks a new phase in Italy's international cooperation efforts under the Mattei Plan for Africa, and underscores both institutions' shared commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, advancing food systems, and creating economic opportunities in rural communities.

A Shared Vision for Rural Transformation

The collaboration aims to strengthen food security, reduce dependence on imports, and create decent employment in agriculture-based economies. Both IFAD and BF S.p.A. see inclusive and sustainable rural development as central to addressing Africa's twin challenges of poverty and youth unemployment.

"Strengthening Africa's agricultural systems is essential to create decent job opportunities, especially for young people and women in rural areas, so they can build their future in their own communities," said Federica Diamanti, IFAD's Associate Vice-President for External Relations. "IFAD can help mitigate risks and create safer, more transparent conditions to facilitate private sector investment."

The agreement sets the stage for long-term cooperation combining BF's private-sector innovation and agro-industrial expertise with IFAD's development finance and grassroots engagement model.

Italy's BF Group Expands Its Global Agricultural Footprint

Representing the private sector's contribution to sustainable rural transformation, BF S.p.A. is Italy's largest integrated agricultural enterprise, managing diverse operations across farming, food processing, and agri-technology innovation.

"The signing of this Letter of Intent marks another step forward in BF Group's internationalization process and in our commitment to promoting innovative, regenerative, and inclusive agriculture," said Federico Vecchioni, Executive President of BF S.p.A. "This partnership allows us to implement our BFuture Farm model—integrating technology, training, and local development to contribute concretely to food security and the growth of the territories where we operate, in full alignment with the objectives of Italy's Mattei Plan and the UN 2030 Agenda."

BF's BFuture Farm initiative—a model for sustainable and regenerative agriculture—uses advanced technology to boost productivity while restoring ecosystems and empowering local communities. The company is already implementing this model in Algeria, the Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire, covering over 130,000 hectares.

The model integrates digital tools, including satellite monitoring, AI-based analytics, precision irrigation, and data-driven resource management, to enhance productivity and sustainability.

IFAD's Expanding Rural Development Portfolio in Africa

Africa remains the top priority region for IFAD. The Fund's active portfolio in sub-Saharan Africa exceeds US$4 billion, representing half of IFAD's global financial commitments.

Through its financing and partnerships, IFAD supports climate-resilient agriculture, smallholder productivity, and inclusive agri-value chains, ensuring that investment reaches farmers, cooperatives, and microenterprises at the grassroots level.

The Fund's mission aligns closely with BF's vision of inclusive growth. IFAD aims to scale up private sector engagement through initiatives that bridge development financing and commercial investment, fostering collaboration with local banks, cooperatives, and youth-led enterprises.

"Public and private partnerships are critical to transform Africa's food systems," an IFAD spokesperson noted. "This partnership demonstrates how global expertise and local innovation can converge to create sustainable change."

A Partnership Aligned with the Mattei Plan for Africa

The collaboration is a flagship example of Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa—a comprehensive strategy to foster economic cooperation between Italy and African nations, focusing on agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, and education.

Under the Mattei Plan, IFAD acts as a multilateral partner and technical advisor, helping ensure that investment projects achieve measurable impacts on food security, climate resilience, and employment generation.

BF S.p.A.'s agricultural initiatives under the plan focus on value chain development, technology transfer, and capacity-building to create self-sustaining ecosystems of local production and reduce dependency on imported food commodities.

"Italy is committed to supporting Africa's agricultural potential through partnerships that blend private innovation with international cooperation," Vecchioni said. "Through the Mattei Plan, we aim to build a bridge of sustainable investment between Italy and Africa."

Innovation, Training, and Inclusive Growth

The Letter of Intent also outlines joint areas for cooperation, including:

• Technology Transfer: Sharing BF's expertise in precision agriculture, digital platforms, and regenerative farming models to enhance local productivity and environmental sustainability.

• Capacity Building: Designing training programs for farmers, cooperatives, and agri-entrepreneurs to improve management, marketing, and technical skills.

• Access to Finance: Facilitating innovative financing solutions for rural micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with IFAD leveraging its development finance experience.

• Policy Dialogue: Promoting inclusive and sustainable agriculture in global forums, encouraging public-private dialogue and evidence-based policymaking.

• Sustainability and Climate Action: Aligning all initiatives with global sustainability standards, including the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through these actions, both organizations aim to support local food systems that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially inclusive.

Building Resilience Through Public-Private Partnerships

The IFAD–BF collaboration demonstrates how blended finance and cooperative investment can unlock new opportunities in the agricultural sector. By combining IFAD's public mandate with BF's private-sector innovation, the partnership aims to create a replicable model for rural transformation.

This model emphasizes three pillars:

1. Technology and Innovation – integrating AI, satellite data, and smart irrigation systems to increase yields sustainably.

2. Capacity and Employment – training local farmers and youth, with a focus on women's economic participation.

3. Inclusive Value Chains – strengthening market linkages and access to finance to enable rural producers to thrive.

The collaboration also aligns with IFAD's ongoing work to strengthen resilient food systems and climate adaptation across Africa, where smallholders continue to face challenges from climate change, inflation, and geopolitical shocks.

Toward a New Era of Agricultural Cooperation

The partnership between IFAD and BF S.p.A. reflects a growing global consensus that transforming food systems requires synergy between development institutions and the private sector. It builds on a long history of Italy's leadership in multilateral cooperation on food security, particularly through its support of Rome-based UN agencies—IFAD, the FAO, and the World Food Programme (WFP).

As part of this shared vision, the new alliance aims to advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

"Together with BF, we can accelerate rural transformation and ensure that smallholder farmers—especially women and youth—become key drivers of Africa's sustainable growth," Diamanti said.

The Letter of Intent paves the way for a structured framework of cooperation, with both institutions expected to formalize specific joint initiatives in 2026.

By combining technical expertise, financial innovation, and local partnerships, IFAD and BF S.p.A. aim to redefine how global agriculture can deliver inclusive prosperity—rooted in sustainability, technology, and dignity for rural communities.