Issue Deep Dive: Italy/Agriculture

The Donor Tracker uses the latest official DAC OECD data for our analyses. The latest full set of data available is 2023. Preliminary data are available on aggregate figures for 2024.

ODA Spending

How much ODA does Italy allocate to agriculture?

In 2023, Italy spent US$267 million of ODA on agriculture. Italy was the 11^th largest DAC donor to agriculture in 2023 and the 19^th largest in relative terms.

How is Italian agricultural ODA changing?

Italy channeled most of its ODA for agriculture projects multilaterally in 2023. Italy maintains close relationships with the Rome-based UN organizations working on agriculture and related issues, however financial contributions have been moderate in recent years.

How does Italy allocate agricultural ODA?

Bilateral Spending

Italy channeled little of its ODA for agriculture bilaterally. Bilateral agriculture ODA only comprised about one-fifth of Italy's total agriculture ODA in 2023.

Multilateral Spending and Commitments

Compared to other DAC donors, Italy spends much of its ODA on core contributions to multilateral organizations.

Funding & Policy Outlook

What is the current government's outlook on agricultural ODA?

In early 2024, Italy hosted the Africa-Italy Summit, to launch the pilot programs of Italy's flagship foreign policy initiative, also known as the Mattei Plan for Africa. The Mattei Plan identifies agriculture as a priority area of intervention. Interventions will be aimed at decreasing malnutrition rates, fostering the development of agri-food supply chains, and supporting the development of non-fossil biofuels. The development of family farming, the preservation of forestry, and combating and adapting to climate change through integrated agriculture are considered fundamental.

In December 2023, at the 174^th Session of the Council of the FAO, Director-General Qu Dongyu announced the appointment of Maurizio Martina as Deputy Director-General of the FAO. Martina is an Italian national and former Italian Minister for Agriculture.

Rome hosts the main UN agencies tasked with addressing food security, agriculture, and sustainable development issues. FAO, WFP, and IFAD are together referred to as the Rome Agri-food Hub. The government has a close relationship with these agencies, which inform Italy’s development cooperation in agriculture.