E-course | Food Systems Finance
About this course
In short- Bridging the gap between finance and sustainability
- Risk mitigation and portfolio protection
- Access to a "frontrunner" professional network
Learn how finance shapes sustainable food systems. Following a successful 2025 debut, the Food Systems Finance e-course returns May 11–June 12, 2026. Register by April 26 to join the next cohort.
About this course
The Food System Finance e-course, developed by the Netherlands Food Partnership, Wageningen University, and Fair & Sustainable Consulting, explores the critical link between finance and food systems. Supported by the Dutch government, the programme examines how public and private investments drive socio-economic and environmental outcomes.
Participants will learn to shift financial influence toward positive results while managing risks, such as physical and reputational threats, that impact portfolios. As this is an evolving field, you will join a "frontrunner" group establishing new industry standards.
Designed for finance professionals, the course features four modules blending theory with practical videos and infographics. The flexible, self-paced curriculum includes online plenary sessions during weeks one and three to foster collaboration. Join this initiative to help chart new territory in sustainable food finance.
Practical details
Registration for the e-course is until 26 April 2026.
Modules Title Week Starting date Study time
Module A Understanding food systems transformation Week 1 11 May 2.5 hours
Module B Strategizing finance for food systems Week 2 18 May 2.5 hours
Pause week Week 3 25 May
Module C Operationalizing finance for food systems Week 4 1 June 2.5 hours
Module D Measuring impact on food systems finance Week 5 8 June 2.5 hours
Investing in Change: The Power of Finance to Shape Sustainable Food Systems
In the first plenary webinar of the 2025 Food Systems Finance e-course, participants explored how financial actors—public, private, and blended—can catalyse food systems transformation. The experts Mrs. Nadine Gbossa, IFAD Director of Food Systems Coordination and Mr. Anil Kumar, Founder & Group CEO of Samunnati, India’s largest agri-enterprise, shared their views, tools, lessons, and real-world examples from global and Indian contexts.
Read more and watch the summary recording through this recording link.
Repurposing Public and Private Finance to Advance more Sustainable Food Systems
The 2nd webinar of the 2025 Food Systems Finance e-course featured expert speakers from the World Bank Group and the Rabo Foundation. The session provided rich perspectives on redirecting agricultural support and strengthening the financial mechanisms needed to transform food systems. Dr. Sergiy Zorya, Global Lead for Public Policy and Expenditures at the World Bank Group, delivers a compelling call to rethink global agricultural support as he unveils data-driven tools, policy packages, and real-world success stories—insights that invite a deeper look into his transformative vision for sustainable food systems. Mr. Bas Evers, Program Manager Africa at the Rabo Foundation, shares high-impact examples of how targeted financing can transform opportunities for smallholder farmers and MSMEs—and if you’re curious to discover the four critical enabling factors behind this success, be sure to read the article and watch the video.
Read more and watch the summary recording through this recording link.
Alumni
Find out more about the characteristics of the 240 professionals trained through this 1st edition of the e-course Food System Finance. Characteristics such as geographical focus, type of organisation they work for, gender and age.
Introducing cohort 1
Eight alumni of cohort 1 share their views on the role of public and/or private finance in Food System Transformation. They present their views seen from their professional background as a public or private financier or working closely in partnership with financiers in combination with the learnings and insights from the e-course.
Read all eight views here: Blogs e-course alumni
Contact
Do you have questions about the e-course Food Systems Finance? Please get in touch with our expert Bram de Groote!
