European Investment Bank gives FrieslandCampina loan for R&D | Progresiv
FrieslandCampina has received support of 150 million euros for its R&D activities in Europe thanks to the European Investment Bank (EIB), which has made its first ever loan to a company in the Netherlands’ agricultural sector. 
The company is set to use the funding for R&D activities in facilities around Europe, with a large part of it to be carried out in its innovation centre in Wageningen, central Netherlands.
The activities will focus on the areas of nutrition, food structuring, packaging, process technology, as well as sensory and dietary demand aspects for dairy products.
EIB vice-president Pim van Ballekom said: “The EIB is proud to support such a longstanding Dutch company. Milk and its derivatives are central to most people’s diets and the importance of the research and development surrounding the products they consume should not be underestimated. Although we have already supported agriculture through SME credit facilities in the past, we see this operation as a clear example of what the EIB can do for the sector.”
Hein Schumacher, CFO of Royal FrieslandCampina, said: “The EIB loan gives us the opportunity to finance our European research, development and innovation activities at favourable conditions. These activities are mainly carried out in our innovation centre in Wageningen where more than 300 R&D employees in various disciplines from all over the world are working together to unlock the nutritional potential of milk.” (www.foodbev.com)
