AGRI3 Fund and Rabobank Announce Expansion of the Renova Pasto Program

Published: March 18, 2026

The new phase broadens access to sustainable credit for soy and other annual crops, while accelerating the restoration of degraded land across the Cerrado and the Amazon.

SÃO PAULO – Rabobank and the AGRI3 Fund are expanding their partnership with the launch of Renova Pasto 2.0, an extension of the programme that pairs long-term financing with specialised technical assistance to support the recovery of degraded land and the conservation of strategic ecosystems in the Cerrado and the Amazon. Since its launch in 2023, the initiative has already delivered productivity and sustainability gains for livestock farmers, and now extends its model to soy and other annual crops.

In this new phase, Renova Pasto 2.0 aims to make better use of currently degraded areas and promote practices that improve the efficiency and resilience of production systems, based on a technical assessment of each property. The programme offers amortisable financing with terms of up to ten years, a maximum of US$ 5 million per transaction, and a three-year grace period. It also provides co-financed technical assistance to establish, improve, and monitor productive and socio-environmental indicators, such as yield per hectare, preserved forest area, and improvements in rural living conditions.

Socio-environmental evaluation and monitoring, along with improvement plans for participating producers restoring degraded land to more sustainable pastures and crop fields, are carried out by Brazilian consultancy Produzindo Certo.

According to Ricardo Silva, Head of Rural Banking for Rabobank in Brazil and South America, the initiative meets growing global food demand by raising productivity on already-converted land and encouraging more resilient farming systems. “This new phase of our partnership with AGRI3 provides a tangible solution to support producers in adopting more efficient and sustainable models through the restoration of degraded areas and the integration of different crops,” he said.

Casper Havinga, Investment Director at the AGRI3 Fund, added: “Access to long-term financing is a critical enabler for producers to transition toward more sustainable and productive land use. Financing for pasture restoration supports improvements in productivity and resilience, reinforces farm sustainability, and assists in decoupling agricultural expansion from deforestation. We are pleased to further strengthen our collaboration with Rabobank Brazil, as this form of blended and catalytic financing plays a vital role in scaling up solutions for sustainable agriculture.”

For Rabobank clients, Renova Pasto has already shown how tailored financial solutions can unlock sustainable productivity gains in the field. “We faced degraded pastures and limited financing options, with short terms and little grace period. Rabobank introduced us to Renova Pasto, providing improved conditions and an environmental focus aligned with our values. Following the financial analysis, the project proved feasible even with low cattle prices. Today, we observe enhanced pastures and livestock with increased value,” says Wilton Roberto Guimarães, from Niquelândia-GO.

“When I joined Renova Pasto, my objective was to restore and intensify degraded pastures. The extended repayment period and the three-year grace period made the project viable, and Rabobank managed the process efficiently. We expect results to emerge quickly, enabling us to raise the area’s productivity through pasture renewal. And because the financing offers a long repayment term, we’ll be able to implement crop rotation, such as planting soybeans for a set period, which will further increase the efficiency of our land, including livestock,” says Geraldo Antonio Delai, from Canarana-MT.

Renova Pasto 2.0 differs from the first phase by expanding beyond livestock to include annual crops. The new version adopts conservation indicators, includes forest-preservation commitments referencing a native-vegetation baseline, and provides for independent technical monitoring, strengthening the governance and credibility of the initiative.

Renova Pasto 2.0 is available to Rabobank clients who meet the programme requirements. Final contracting conditions are subject to the technical analyses set out within the initiative. The testimonials reflect the specific experiences of participating clients and do not constitute a promise or guarantee of future outcomes.

About Rabobank

Rabobank is an international financial institution specialising in tailored solutions for agribusiness, with expertise spanning the entire food supply chain, from field to table. Through its research division, RaboResearch, the bank produces content on trends and forecasts in agribusiness, both in Brazil and globally.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Rabobank operates in more than 35 countries. In Brazil, it has maintained a presence for over 35 years, with 17 branches in major agricultural centres, offering credit consulting, risk management, and investment solutions for rural producers and large agribusiness enterprises.

For more information, visit www.rabobank.com.br. Press Office – SMARTPR | rabobank@wearesmart.com.br

About the AGRI3 Fund

The AGRI3 Fund was established by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Rabobank, with partners IDH and FMO (the Dutch Entrepreneurial Bank), to support the transition to sustainable agriculture. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a donor to the Fund, while the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through Conservation International, is a senior participant. FOUNT and Cardano Development act as investment advisors. The Fund mobilises public and private capital by offering risk-mitigation instruments and technical assistance to projects that prevent deforestation, encourage reforestation, advance sustainable agriculture and efficient supply chains, reduce carbon emissions, and improve rural livelihoods.

For more information, contact Maria-Pia Kelly – m.kelly@agri3.com