Rabobank Group

The Rabobank Group is committed to making food & agri chains sustainable by applying the five Food & Agribusiness Principles:

• Sufficient and safe food production   
• Responsible use of natural resources  
• A responsible society in order to promote welfare  
• Responsible treatment of animals 
• Raising awareness among consumers and citizens

The explosive growth in the world population is creating a rising demand for food, while the amount of available agricultural land is decreasing owing to climate change, scarcity of water and environmental pollution. 

An example that demonstrates our commitment in relation to this core theme:

People and planet in balance
The vast Xingu river basin in Brazil is a textbook example of biological and natural diversity. Human actions are giving rise to numerous ecological and social issues in this region. 

As a global food & agri bank, Rabobank acknowledges that the balance between food production and the environment is a precarious and difficult challenge. With this in mind, Rabobank is working in partnership with farmers and Brazilian environmental protection organisations to restore the Xingu basin. Rabobank has developed special financial mechanisms that enable farmers to finance reforestation from the sale of emission rights from planting trees. This system was initially used in 2008 in the form of a pilot involving 32 hectares of land divided among eight farmers. Another 32 hectares was reforested in 2009. If these project phases are successful, more businesses will be involved in this mechanism on a larger scale and application of the system will become within the reach of all the other regions in which Rabobank International is active in Brazil. 

The Rabobank Group supports the innovation of production methods and the development and use of sustainable energy. This creates less of a drain on the natural resources of future generations. Our own business process must likewise meet these requirements. Examples that demonstrate our commitment in relation to this core theme:

Geothermal energy in horticulture
Like most sectors in the Dutch economy, these are difficult times for the horticultural sector. High gas prices and low production prices mean that many horticulturists are finding it difficult to keep their heads above water. 

While Rabobank has a long tradition of supporting the profitable production of top-quality vegetables and flowers, as a sustainable bank it would prefer to see this produce grown in energy-efficient greenhouses. Investing in this will enable the horticultural sector to ‘break free’ from fossil fuels. 

In keeping with this aim, Rabobank is joining forces with the Dutch government to stimulate the use of geothermal energy by pumping up hot water. While drilling for geothermal energy generates major benefits for the horticultural sector, it remains an expensive undertaking. Particularly the costs associated with failed drills are too great for a business owner to carry independently. 

This is why Rabobank is exploring the possibilities for partially hedging the risk of failed drills. In line with this aim, the Rabobank Project Fund and Rabobank Leeuwarden-Noordwest Friesland are making a financial contribution to research into the viability of extraction and exploitation of geothermic energy on the Dutch island of Terschelling.

The co-operative Skylger Energie Maatschappij (S.E.M.) is to conduct research into the viability of a green power station on Terschelling. 

Terschelling has set the target of being completely self-sufficient in the field of water and sustainable energy by 2020. A quick scan has proven that the deeper strata on the island are most likely suitable for geothermics, i.e. tapping into geothermal heat as an energy source. S.E.M. will conduct further research into the extraction and exploitation of this form of energy. The total costs of the research will amount to EUR 370,000. Rabobank Leeuwarden-Noordwest Friesland is contributing EUR 25,000 and the Rabobank Project Fund is contributing EUR 75,000 of this amount.

Driving innovative and sustainable developments that yield both an economic and socially responsible effect for our members is our core business. This initiative consequently fits in well with our worldwide clean tech strategy. There is furthermore a high level of commitment on the part of the residents of Terschelling. The project also has enormous potential because if the power plant is ultimately realised, it will be the first of its kind in the Netherlands. 

Environmental management
Careful treatment of people and their environment has been a core objective of the Rabobank Group for many years. This commitment spans all areas, including the group’s own business operations. Sustainability is the related key word. 

Our sustainable business comprises four steps:

• We aim to limit consumption 
• We use the natural resources we have to use as efficiently as possible 
• We prefer to use sustainable resources/sustainable products and services 
• We offset the remaining CO2 emissions resulting from our energy consumption    

Equal opportunities for everyone to participate in the economy. This core theme stems from Rabobank’s co-operative roots. Examples of how this aim is put into practice include the development of financial services for specific customer groups and initiatives taken by local member Rabobanks such as ‘diverse and equal’.

Rabobank Foundation supports projects in the Netherlands that expand the independence and self-sufficiency of people who are in a disadvantaged position. The main themes are: employment and education, people and society and sport and recreation. 

The focus in developing countries is on microfinancing and sustainable chain development in the fields of coffee, cotton and cacao.

An example that demonstrates our commitment in relation to this core theme:
Rabobank Foundation projects 

The local member Rabobanks support social groups and projects. Rabobank furthermore actively operates social funds and services such as the Charity Desk, the Rabobank Foundation and the Share4More employee fund.

Rabo Development develops international commercial banking activities in regions that do not have many banks. Employees participate in these activities by serving as a volunteer for Rabo Development or the Rabobank Foundation. 

An example that demonstrates our commitment in relation to this core theme:

Charity Desk
Wealthy individuals increasingly want to dedicate part of their wealth to socially relevant charities. This led Rabobank Private Banking and Rabobank subsidiary Schretlen & Co to set up the Charity Desk in 2008. 

Special advisers assist customers to find suitable charities to work with or to support through financial donations. The Charity Desk furthermore provides advice regarding making charitable donations through annuities or a testament. 

The Charity Desk’s network is made up of all the local member Rabobanks, a large group of customers and numerous charitable institutions. 

With a view to ensuring optimum transparency, a special customer fund has also been set up within the Rabobank Foundation. This customer fund makes it possible to make a donation based on a certain theme such as microfinancing, fair trade or health and welfare. It is also possible to establish a Named Fund.