NEW TECH FOODS

The European Investment Bank (EIB), in partnership with Rabobank and its leasing arm DLL, has announced a new €1 billion funding initiative aimed at boosting sustainability and agtech innovation among small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the EU.

The EIB is providing two loans of €250 million: one to Rabobank and one to its leasing subsidiary DLL. Both institutions will match the loans with their own funds, bringing the total available financing to €1 billion. The funding will support climate-focused projects, with a strong focus on sustainable agriculture, the bioeconomy and energy transition technologies.

Rabobank’s share will finance Dutch SMEs and mid-caps, with at least 40% earmarked for climate-relevant projects and another 40% for bioeconomy sectors, including agriculture. DLL’s facility targets businesses in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Ireland and the Netherlands, with a focus on accessible leasing solutions for sustainable equipment and technologies.

The initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart practices and technologies in Europe’s agricultural and food sectors, which are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency.

EIB's director general, Jean-Christophe Laloux, stated: “It is important to understand that climate financing is a key driver of economic growth. We have to look at the bigger picture, which is that climate change is disrupting business and economic behaviours. We have a long track-record with Rabobank and DLL in terms of climate relevant financing, and hope that this facility can convince other financiers to make available more support for entrepreneurs developing more sustainable projects.”

Lara Yocarini, member of the managing board at Rabobank, and CEO and chair of the executive board of DLL, added: “As a transition partner for a better world, DLL believes that sustainability is fundamental to long-term business success. The attractive funding from the European Investment Bank will enhance our ability to provide more accessible, affordable and tailored leasing solutions, ultimately reducing barriers for our partners and customers to invest in more sustainable equipment and technology.”

The EIB has invested more than €27 billion in Dutch projects over the last decade. This latest initiative aligns with broader EU objectives to support the green transition and strengthen sustainability in key economic sectors.