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Rabobank launches Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund

18 May 2017

Rabobank is launching the Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund, which is part of Rabo Private Equity. The fund plans to invest in high-potential, early-stage food and agri companies in Western Europe and in the United States.

Rabobank launches Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund

Rabobank is launching the Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund, which is part of Rabo Private Equity. The fund plans to invest in high-potential, early-stage food and agri companies in Western Europe and in the United States. One of the objectives the bank envisions to achieve through this fund is the promotion of innovation in the food and agri space.

“The fund focuses on companies that are in support of Rabobank’s Banking for Food strategy,” said Lizette Sint, Global Head of Rabo Private Equity. “This strategy focuses on contributing to food security in the context of a rapidly growing world population, changing demographics and consumption patterns and an increasingly complex food system.”

“We consider investments all along the food and agri value chain, with a particular focus on ambitious companies that operate in sectors in which we can optimally leverage the bank’s knowledge and expertise, network and position to help create shareholder value,” said Richard O’Gorman, who leads the investment initiative as part of Rabo Private Equity.

This, says the bank, is why the fund’s investments will consist of more than just financial support. Rabobank says it will be a close investment partner and provide companies it selected full access to the bank’s food and agri experts and networks in order to build long term value together.

The Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund is described as complementary to the other activities the bank supports in the food and agri space, including its indirect investments in strategic venture capital and private equity funds.