Agriculture and the bioeconomy

The agriculture and bioeconomy sector is a key contributor to economic growth in the world’s rural and coastal regions. It plays a vital role in food security, healthy diets and resilience to climate change. It is also the backbone for local entrepreneurship, employment and social development in many countries around the world.

At the European Investment Bank (EIB), we finance projects across the agricultural, fisheries, food, and forestry value chains, focusing on food quality and security, sustainable rural development, climate-smart production, innovation, and resource efficiency. We foster innovative and sustainable bio-resource pathways that are critical for greening the economy.

Through our long-term financing and technical advice, we

benefit farmers, private enterprises and society as a whole
promote environmental sustainability
lower agriculture’s CO2 emissions

€3 billion of EIB Group financing announced for farmers and bioeconomy

European Investment Bank Group President Nadia Calviño has announced a €3 billion financing package for agriculture, forestry and fisheries across Europe along with moves to bolster farm insurance. The EIB Group loans will be matched by other participating financial institutions, unlocking close to €8.4 billion of long-term investments for the bioeconomy sector.

Our goals

Through our support, we address the needs and challenges of modern agriculture:

Feeding

a growing population

Providing

a livelihood for farmers

Protecting

the environment

Our priorities

We invest in projects that:

Develop innovative, sustainable agricultural practices and technologies
Make food production more sustainable and efficient
Enhance access to finance for farmers, micro-enterprises and small businesses

In focus

A fresh idea

The EIB supports CrowdFarming, a platform that connects consumers with farmers who grow products without pesticides. Its direct-selling model promotes fresh food and sustainable agriculture that cuts emissions and delivers profits to small, organic farmers.

Together we work towards a more sustainable food supply chain.

Find out more

Browse our projects

EIB projects under appraisal

EIB financed projects

Our stories

Individual stories speak far louder than figures and charts. Discover the impact of our projects.

10 December 2024

The things we take for granted: Water for Lucía

Lucía and her brother run a vine nursery that their father founded in the 1970s. Since 2021, their village has been connected to a sustainable irrigation system that brings water from the Navarra Canal. For the production of grafted grapevines, Lucía not only needs plenty of water but also rotates the land every two years. Before the irrigation system was installed in Larraga, she had to rent land with sufficient water from far away. Now, with the modernised irrigation system, farming became more efficient, productive and adapted to climate change variabilities. The sustainable, gravity-led water distribution system in Navarra is financed by the European Investment Bank, the governments of Navarra and Spain, and Caixabank. It was implemented by Aguas de Navarra and INTIA.

Spain European Union Agriculture
3 December 2024

A delicious solution

With its high-tech approach to sustainable aquaculture, Munich-based Oceanloop is taking shrimp farming into the 21^st century.

Bioeconomy Environment Climate Food industry Venture debt Climate action Spain Germany European Union Agriculture Climate action and environment Forestry Venture capital & equity SMEs
29 November 2024

Reservoir of resilience

Climate change is causing severe droughts in Crete. But a new reservoir and irrigation project will tackle these effects and revive agriculture.

Water Climate change Climate Sustainability Greece European Union Agriculture Climate action and environment Corporate Water, wastewater management
28 November 2024

Mycellium mince

Matr Foods harnesses fungi fermentation to create a meat substitute that replicates the juicy texture of beef

Bioeconomy Environment Food industry Venture debt Denmark European Union Agriculture Climate action and environment Forestry Venture capital & equity SMEs
14 November 2024

The things we take for granted: asbestos-free barn roofs for Joan

Joan and his father run a dairy farm in Overijssel, the Netherlands. Insurance company Univé made a deal to renovate the roofs of the barns on the farm, removing old asbestos.

Now Joan rents the roofs to the company, which has installed solar panels on them. It’s a good deal for Joan, and it means clean electricity for the community.

This initiative, financed by the European Investment Bank, Energy Fund Overijssel and Univé, is producing clean energy for over 5,000 households on roofs that were once full of asbestos.

Climate Renewable energy The Netherlands European Union Agriculture Climate action and environment Energy
15 October 2024

Financing food security will yield high returns

Hunger is an immediate global crisis that demands massive investment. Fortunately, the potential rewards are enormous, because sustainable food systems not only reduce poverty and malnutrition, but also create jobs, promote economic growth, reduce gender inequality, improve health, and build stronger communities.

Interviews Management committee Gelsomina VIGLIOTTI Zambia Madagascar Malawi Tunisia Uganda Africa, Caribbean, Pacific countries + OCT Mediterranean countries Agriculture Development
1 October 2024

Seeds for local growth

EIB Global helps female entrepreneurs get loans from Kenya’s regional banks, boosting small business

Sustainability Kenya Africa, Caribbean, Pacific countries + OCT Agriculture Climate action and environment Corporate Diversity and gender
1 August 2024

Is it trash or a hidden gem?

Western Kenya city wants to turn urban waste into biogas and fertiliser

Partnerships City Climate Finance Gap Fund Mandates and partnerships Kenya Africa, Caribbean, Pacific countries + OCT Urban development Agriculture Development Climate action and environment Circular economy
4 June 2024

Insect power

European guarantees help Hungarian business like Agroloop grow, boosting innovation, employment, and digitalisation

Hungary European Union Agriculture InvestEU Corporate SMEs
4 March 2024

Boosting women agri-businesses in Malawi

Better access to finance for small and medium-sized agriculture business in Malawi, especially those run by women

Malawi Africa, Caribbean, Pacific countries + OCT Agriculture Diversity and gender

Contact us

We offer a wide range of financial products, as well as technical assistance through the European Investment Advisory Hub and the European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC).

For enquiries regarding the financing facilities, activity, organisation and objectives of the EIB, contact the Information Desk
Contact us
Tel. +352 4379-22000
Frequently asked questions

Contact our Press office
Tel. +352 4379-21000
press@eib.org
www.eib.org/press