Enabling the Environment for Private Sector Investment: Impact on Food Security and Poverty

Abstract

Abstract Millions of people worldwide live in extreme poverty, which has an adverse effect on global food security. Research shows that growth in the agricultural labor sector has twice the impact on poverty compared to growth in other labor sectors. To that end, we examine some of the enabling factors of private sector investment to increase food security and reduce poverty: innovative output, intellectual property rights innovation, gender-sensitive land tenure, creation of new businesses, openness to trade, government institutional flexibility, access to credit, inclusion of new sectors, income diversification, public-private partnerships, infrastructure improvements, payments for eco-system services, and climate-smart innovation. Developing policies that improve food security will help to reduce poverty.