In this episode, we speak with Bram Spann, Regional Lead for Asia at the Rabo Foundation. The Rabo Foundation is an impact funder focused on the agriculture and food systems sector, investing globally. India is its largest market by investment, where it has been providing trade finance, term loans, debt facilities, working capital facilities, credit guarantees, and grants, and many of these services are integrated into broader blended finance structures. Bram shares his extensive experience investing in India and other Asian countries and discusses his efforts to support smallholder farmers throughout the agricultural value chain.

If you are someone in the agricultural sector and doing incredible work, please reach out to Bram Spann on LinkedIn.

Time stamps:

1:55: Bram’s introduction and his career at Rabobank and Rabo Foundation 

6:07: Rabo Foundation’s strategy over the years and their current work in India and globally

9:15: Rabo Foundation’s flagship program and how they’ve partnered with several key stakeholders and network partners to enhance the program’s impact

12:50: How network partners have helped the Foundation to cover more ground and enhance capabilities of the asset classes through technical assistance

14:45: Example of other blended finance transactions focusing on other impact areas alongside agriculture such as gender and climate

17:45: Key ingredients required for a successful blended finance transaction at scale based on Bram’s experience

22:48: Rabo’s criteria for evaluating and onboarding new projects and what makes a project across the agri value chain click amongst the several proposals they receive

29:52: Similarities and differences between India and other markets such as that of SouthEast Asia

32:40: How Rabo foundation plans to scale their operations to support the world’s 25% smallholder farmers in India

35:20: What developments in the broader Indian ecosystem will benefit blended finance transactions and help the Foundation achieve their goals faster