The European Investment Bank and the Financialization of Agricultural Development in Africa

In the aftermath of 2008, agriculture and agricultural industrialization have been occupying a central role in the developmental policies proposed by international organizations. In particular, international and regional financial institutions have increased their economic and political commitment in favor of the expansion and modernization of the agricultural sector, with specific attention to Africa and its role in the global food regime. Interestingly, despite the role of financial actors in the production of the economic, these public actors have chosen to structure their interventions around public-private partnership and more specifically to channel money in the agricultural sector through the intermediation of private funds. This contribution makes specific reference to the experience of the European Investment Bank in Africa, and it critically engages with the implications of linking agricultural development with finance.