Dedicated loans from the Bank’s EUR 3 billion credit line, specialist consultancy and local meetings on sustainability and ESG requirements to facilitate access to credit for companies in the Prosecco chain
The Prosecco DOC Consortium and Crédit Agricole Italia have signed an agreement aimed at promoting the adoption of sustainability practices by member companies and the entire production chain. The agreement was signed in Verona, within the framework of Vinitaly at the Prosecco DOC Theatre (stand b4, hall 4), by the President of the Consortium Giancarlo Guidolin and the Head of Banca d’Impresa of Crédit Agricole Italia, Marco Perocchi, in the presence of the Director of the Consortium Luca Giavi.
The initiative, aimed at an audience of around 11,400 Consortium members made up of winegrowers, winemakers and bottlers, provides for a dedicated line of financing from the EUR 3 billion ceiling allocated by the Bank following the memorandum of understanding signed in February with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF).
In addition to dedicated finance, Crédit Agricole Italia will support companies in the supply chain with a range of tools to facilitate the transition towards sustainable agricultural and production practices, such as the evaluation of the ESG level, specialist consultancy services, and the organisation of information and training meetings in the area. Particular attention will be paid to supporting young people in one of the most delicate challenges for businesses, the generational transition.
Marco Perocchi, Head of Corporate Banking at Crédit Agricole Italia, said:
‘The adoption of methodologies for analysing and certifying sustainability performance and compliance with ESG requirements is an opportunity for companies as the evolution of consumption and the growing sensitivity to sustainability issues, as well as the evolution of EU regulations, require a careful monitoring of information related to the value chain. Accompanying the operators in the chain in the production of this information and more concretely in the sustainable transition is now part of the role of advisor that the Bank now exercises in parallel with its credit and financial activities.’
Luca Giavi, Director of the Consorzio di tutela della Doc Prosecco, commented:
‘We consider it strategic for our consortium members to embark on a path aimed at certification and the application of ESG logics, in order to better position the Prosecco system in the markets and consumer perceptions, as well as to facilitate easier access to financial levers.’
Consortium President Giancarlo Guidolin added:
‘In recent years Crédit Agricole Italia and the Consortium have consolidated, with mutual satisfaction, a relationship of collaboration on various initiatives aimed at companies in the wine sector. This further agreement strengthens our partnership and allows us to further develop the research and innovation activities aimed at the path of sustainability that we pursue with confidence and commitment’.
Confirming its role as a reference point for the sector, in 2024 Crédit Agricole Italia recorded an increase in Agri-Agro lending of +3.3% y/y, against a shrinking market. Market share in the sector increased by +11 basis points y/y to close to 8%.
