Brussels, February 18, 2025 – Nina Schindler, CEO of the European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB), participated in the Food Drink Dialogues panel discussion on the agricultural sector’s transition toward sustainability.
The event, organised by FoodDrinkEurope in partnership with the Financial Times, brought together key players across the food value chain to discuss the various challenges facing the sector and possible solutions from an EU policy perspective.
Ms Schindler, having participated in the EU’s Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture and currently sitting on the new European Board on Agri-Food, was well placed to bring the perspective of the EU financial sector.
She first highlighted the long-standing involvement of cooperative banks, as historical partners, in financing the agrifood sector; outlined the challenges farmers face as they work toward more sustainable practices, and called for regulatory tweaks to help cooperative banks in supporting their clients’ ESG transition, via a simple framework that does not create unnecessary burden.
Unlocking and leveraging private capital to support transition and resilience
“We, as cooperative banks, are risk managers”, Ms Schindler explained. “We provide access to lending facilities for farmers to invest in sustainable practices and improve their long-term profitability, but we must assess the individual risks of each project including ESG risks and transition pathways.”
To address current investment gaps, Ms Schindler insisted on the importance of a holistic and consistent policy approach. The banking sector also needs to rely on benchmarks and reliable data when assessing the progress of farmers on their transition pathways, as set out in the recommendations from the EU Commission’s Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture. The Commission should establish these mechanisms, without additional red tape or excessive administrative requirements for farmers.
Blended finance and cooperation between public and private institutions must also be stepped up to address riskier and larger-scale projects, and bridge the current investment gap.
Looking Forward: Expectations for the EBAF and Commission
As the agricultural sector continues to navigate its sustainability journey, Ms Schindler highlighted the EACB’s high expectations for the new European Board on Agri-Food (EBAF). “We look forward to our continued collaboration with regulators and stakeholders along the food chain, so that EU regulatory frameworks provide the clarity and incentives needed to support green transition in agriculture”.