Crédit Agricole Italia Boosts Agri-Agro Sector with Innovation & Sustainability

Crédit Agricole Italia is reinforcing its position in the Agri-Agro sector by focusing on innovation, sustainability, and production chains. The bank has allocated over €1 billion in new financing in 2024 alone, with an additional 5% increase in disbursements in the second quarter of 2025, highlighting its commitment to Italian agriculture.

Crédit Agricole's Agricultural Roots

Crédit Agricole's origins are deeply rooted in agriculture, forming a core part of its identity. Originating in France as a cooperative group, it now has over 12 million members and approximately 2,400 local branches, with eight out of ten members being farmers. This historical experience has expanded into Italy, where the Group has developed a structured operational model that combines dedicated financial instruments, specialized services, and innovation and sustainability projects.

Market Position and Growth

Crédit Agricole Italia is the second-largest banking operator in the Agri-Agro sector, with over €6 billion in loans, approximately 43,000 clients, and an 8% market share in its areas of operation. According to the Group's observations, Italian agricultural companies are continuing to invest in energy transition, environmental impact reduction, and the valorization of local resources.

"These are companies that look to the medium-long term and require appropriate tools to support change," observes Vittorio Ratto, deputy general manager of Crédit Agricole Italia, emphasizing the bank's role as an operational partner with concrete solutions based on established expertise.

Dedicated Agri-Agro Model

The agricultural sector requires specific expertise and tools. Crédit Agricole has developed a dedicated model with 25 "Verdi" Business Centers, territorial managers and specialists, and a central Business Unit focused on innovation, offering, and commercial coordination. One of the most advanced tools is Agriadvisor, a tablet that allows for the evaluation of agricultural companies without balance sheets, integrating technical know-how and knowledge of the territory.

This structure enables the bank to meet the needs of diverse companies in terms of size, supply chain, and territory, offering flexible and targeted financial solutions.

ESG Financing and Sustainability

Sustainability is a key element of the bank's strategy. In 2024, Crédit Agricole provided approximately €200 million in ESG financing, focusing on PNRR projects related to agrisolar, agrivoltaic, and biomethane.

Parallel to this, the bank supports production chains by supporting Dop and Igp districts and offering digital tools such as Confirming, which facilitates access to credit for suppliers and contributes to the financial stability of the entire chain. In 2024, Crédit Agricole became an "Authorized Bank" of the Ministry of Agriculture for the management of PNRR Supply Chain Contracts, a key step for complex and long-term projects.

Crédit Agricole Italia Key Figures

Supporting Production Chains

Crédit Agricole supports production chains and districts, offering digital tools like Confirming to ease credit access for suppliers. In 2024, it became an "Authorized Bank" by the Ministry of Agriculture for managing PNRR Supply Chain Contracts.

Innovation Through Startups

Innovation also comes from startups. Currently, about 40 agri-tech companies are part of the Group's Italian Villages. Le Villageby CA Parma, inaugurated in 2020, is particularly active, hosting 21 partner companies and 53 startups in the agrifoodtech, mechanics, mobility, pharma, and automation sectors.

Startup and Venture Initiatives

Crédit Agricole is actively involved in fostering innovation through startup programs and venture building, demonstrating a commitment to the industrial growth of the agricultural sector.

Novagria Ventures in Parma

Parma will be the home of Novagria Ventures, an agri-food venture building project launched in collaboration with Cdp Venture Capital, reinforcing a strategy that focuses not only on credit but also on the industrial growth of the sector.

Investments and Partnerships

In addition to this, there are investments in private equity, such as the "Ambition Agri Agro Investissement" fund, and a structural partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture which, at the beginning of 2025, led to the allocation of a €3 billion fund to support the development of the Italian agri-food sector.

Financial Support for Agri-Food Sector

Crédit Agricole's commitment extends to significant financial investments and strategic partnerships aimed at bolstering the Italian agri-food industry.

National Conference on Agriculture

Recently, the Crédit Agricole Green Life in Parma hosted the national conference on Agriculture between sustainability and innovation: mechanization, automation, and generational transition. The meeting included participants such as Denis Pantini from Nomisma, Carlo Bisaglia from Crea, Sergio Marchi from Ismea, Professor Paolo De Castro, former minister and president of the Agriculture Commission of the European Parliament, and Marco Lupo from the Ministry of Agriculture. The conference addressed topics related to new technologies, generational transition, and financial instruments for the supply chains, with a concluding video message from Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.

Key Themes Discussed at the Conference

The national conference highlighted several critical areas for the future of agriculture, including technological advancements and generational shifts.

Commitment to Growth and Innovation

Vittorio Ratto emphasized the Group's commitment to the sector: "We aim to continue supporting and enhancing the growth and innovation paths of Italian agricultural companies, with particular attention to young people, joining forces with the actors involved in this study day."

Crédit Agricole Italia's Key Priorities

The Group is dedicated to fostering growth and innovation within Italian agricultural companies, with a specific focus on supporting young farmers and collaborating with industry stakeholders.

Financial Data in the Agri-Agro Sector

Poli Affari "Verdi" Geographical Distribution

Crédit Agricole's Multi-Faceted Support System