contribute to this. Rabobank's ambition as a globally operating food and agri bank is to work
with local agricultural businesses and international companies to accelerate the greening of
agriculture and food supply.
In 2011Rabobank entered into a partnership with the Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF) with
the mission of establishing projects and practical examples jointly with clients to achieve a
sustainable food supply. This relates principally to cooperating in International Food Agri
projects within the chain to advance its greening. Rabobank and WWF helped a palm oil
business in Indonesia to meet the criteria for obtaining certification for the Round Table on
Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). At the end of 2013, Rabobank and WWF agreed to renew the
partnership to April 2017. Internationally, also the salmon farming project in Chile was started
in 2011 and developed further in 2013. In addition, a partnership agreement was signed in
2013 with various international parties in the fishing industry to develop an instrument for
measuring sustainability performance. In the Netherlands, Rabobank launched a cooperation
in 2013 with Friesland Campina.
Vital communities
In response to receding government support and a market that often fails to meet their
needs, people are taking the initiative themselves again across a wide range of areas.
Organising initiatives cooperatively is the contemporary thing to do once more.
People driving such initiatives often turn to Rabobank for expertise, contacts and financial
support.This can relate as much to small-scale agricultural businesses in developing countries
as it does to sustainable power generation, small-scale healthcare, fibre-optic networks and
groups of start-up businesses in the Netherlands. Rabobank believes that organising initiatives
cooperatively contributes to the greening of society and it aims to promote an increase in the
number of cooperatives worldwide. Rabobank supports community initiatives and thereby
strengthens people's self-sufficiency in the Netherlands and worldwide.
Greening of housing
In 2013 Rabobank and ASN Bank, together with the national government, decided to establish
a National Energy Savings Fund (Nationaal Energiebespaarfonds, or NEF). With the NEF,
homeowners can take out a low-cost loan with effect from 21 January 2014 to finance energy-
saving measures. Rabobank contributed EUR 175 million to the fund, ASN Bank EUR 50 million
and the national government EUR 75 million, making for a total of EUR 300 million for the NEF
for private homeowners. NEF is a fund that provides loans that are returned to the fund upon
repayment, after which the money can be used for new loans. At the time of the launch of the
NEF and the Energy Savings Loan at the start of 2014, Rabobank also introduced the Sustainable
Flousing Programme.This programme, which was developed in 2013, offers practical information
on sustainability and housing for private individuals and businesses.
Activities
Rabobank Foundation
Rabobank Foundation can look back on a 40-year history of investing in people's self-sufficiency
around the world. Rabobank's social fund offers underprivileged people in the Netherlands and
abroad a sustainable future in a group context. An aim that - today more than ever - ties in
with Rabobank's cooperative identity. Support from Rabobank Foundation abroad is aimed at
providing access to finance, knowledge and markets for small farmers through cooperatives.
Rabobank Foundation thereby contributes both to combating poverty and to addressing the
global food issue. In the Netherlands, Rabobank Foundation helps to increase the economic
and social self-sufficiency of underprivileged people by giving them access to education, work
and social activities such as sports and culture.
Annual Report 2013 Rabobank Group
