By 
As geopolitical tensions escalate and world leaders gather in Munich, the head of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is delivering a stark warning: fragile food systems are not just a development issue—they are a direct threat to global stability.
Speaking ahead of the Munich Security Conference (13–15 February), IFAD President Alvaro Lario called on governments and investors to treat food security and rural investment as matters of international peace and security.
‘Land and Water Deserve as Much Attention as Rare Minerals’
“Fragile food systems pose an underestimated risk to global stability. Specifically, access to productive land and reliable freshwater must be prioritized. Land and water deserve as much attention as rare minerals, if not more, as they are key to global stability,” said Lario.
The warning comes as nearly 80 per cent of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas, where climate shocks, failing food systems, and lack of economic opportunity act as force multipliers for conflict, displacement, and regional instability.
The Rural Stability Dividend
Lario emphasized that investing in rural communities delivers more than economic returns—it builds peace.
“When rural communities have access to productive land and water, food security improves, conflicts over resources decrease and economic opportunities arise.”
He argued that connecting small-scale producers and rural entrepreneurs to markets and finance “does not just promote opportunity and prosperity, it also strengthens the foundations of peace and safeguards some of our most valuable resources.”
IFAD’s Track Record: Investing at the ‘First Mile’
For nearly 50 years, IFAD has worked at the “first mile” of food systems—where food is grown and livelihoods are made. By partnering with governments, UN agencies, and the private sector, the Fund helps rural communities build resilience before shocks escalate into full-blown crises.
Key impact data:
- For every $1 in core contributions, IFAD delivers $6 in high-impact investments
- A recent three‑year impact assessment found project participants recorded over one-third increases in income, productive capacity, and market access
- IFAD helps crowd in public, private, and domestic finance, positioning rural economies for sustained investment
Evidence: Where Rural Investment Falls, Conflict Rises
IFAD’s portfolio offers compelling evidence that agricultural investment directly reduces conflict:
- In Mali, districts without IFAD-supported agricultural programmes experienced an 8 per cent rise in local conflicts compared to those with programmes
- In Ethiopia, a 1 per cent increase in land productivity was associated with a 3 per cent reduction in local conflicts
The Global Picture: Food Insecurity Meets Fragility
Globally, an estimated 70 per cent of acutely food insecure people live in fragile or conflict-affected situations. Since 2019, armed conflict has nearly doubled. For 44 per cent of the acutely food insecure, conflict or insecurity is the primary driver.
IFAD argues that investing in rural resilience addresses the root causes that push people toward violence, illicit economies, or irregular migration—delivering a direct and measurable impact on global stability.
A Call to Align Food Security with Foreign Policy
IFAD is urging governments to align food security investments with broader security and foreign policy goals. The Fund offers scalable, field-tested solutions that complement diplomatic and geopolitical efforts to build long-term global stability.
“Investing in rural communities,” Lario concluded, “is not charity. It is strategy. It is security. And it is overdue.”
