International: sustainable growth for smallholder farmers
Smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America produce 70% of the world’s food needs, but they represent the poorest and hungriest people in the world. Every day, they face major challenges that limit their opportunities to make their farms grow, including climate change and lack of access to financial services, fair markets and knowledge. But that access is precisely what they need to increase their productivity and incomes. In 2020, the coronavirus epidemic only made their position more vulnerable. But at the same time it showed how crucial smallholder farmers are for the global transition to responsible food production.
Opportunities for change
More and more impact entrepreneurs have decided that things need to change, and that smallholder farmers are stronger when they unite. They start a cooperative, offer innovative and sustainable solutions, or buy produce from smallholder farmers. But in the start-up phase, their initiatives are still too small or risky to qualify for standard loans. We see opportunities in their plans, and help them grow sustainably by providing access to financing, knowledge and networks.
Our impact in 2020
€ 30.6 million
we provided in the form of loans, guarantees, trade finance and grants in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
261
farmers' organizations, producer cooperatives, savings and credit cooperatives, microfinance institutions and SMEs in Food & Agri were given the opportunity to start or scale up their activities.
3 million smallholder farmers
saw their position strengthened thanks to the 261 farmers' organizations.
We work on three continents
We work to bring about positive change for smallholder farmers in 22 countries on three continents. This is how we did it in 2020.
