In the Valencian Community, a major network of agricultural product distributors is being supported by a substantial financing program designed to propel innovation and modernization. The initiative provides 10 million euros in combined funding aimed at accelerating the development and implementation of new applications within the sector. The goal is to foster more sustainable, profitable, and competitive production practices throughout the current year, as highlighted by the regional management team in Valencia.
The program is framed as a joint venture involving key public institutions. It will be announced through the Valencian Finance Institute, with confirmation from senior officials in both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture. Arcadi Spain and Mireia Mollà, who lead those respective departments, communicated the plan on Monday, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting agri-food enterprises in the region.
Under this new financing line, the maximum allocation for each operation is set at five million euros in direct assistance, with the possibility of up to ten percent of the total grant being non-refundable installments. A single operation may reach up to five hundred thousand euros, depending on the project profile and eligibility criteria defined by the program administrators.
The non-refundable portion of the funding is backed by a one million euro grant provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition. This support structure ensures that beneficiary companies can access upfront resources to advance their strategic investments without bearing immediate repayment obligations.
To qualify for these financing transactions, participating firms must meet several criteria. They should have an activity code aligned with CNAE 4631, which corresponds to the wholesale trade of fruit and vegetables. They are expected to be considered large-scale operators within the Valencia Community, possess at least five years of activity, and demonstrate at least one active line of business or organizational unit within the Valencian territory. These requirements help target the program toward established players with clear footprints in the regional market.
Investments eligible for subsidy under this line cover a broad spectrum of capacity-building activities. These include land acquisition or development for agricultural use, the construction or modernization of ships and facilities necessary to advance operations, and the establishment of renewable energy installations to increase the energy efficiency of current facilities. By supporting these categories, the program seeks to improve productivity while reducing operating costs and environmental impact.
A central message from program advocates emphasizes the sector’s strategic importance to the regional economy. The financing opportunity presented by the IVF is described as a lever to improve production processes, lower costs, boost profitability, and drive sustainability through new machinery and innovative production methods. The emphasis is on tangible improvements that can translate into measurable gains for fruit and vegetable centers across the Community of Valencia.
The Minister of Agriculture also remarked on the broader impact of this financing line. By enabling better service to the needs of fruit and vegetable centers, the initiative addresses longstanding access-to-finance challenges faced by the regional agri-food sector. The statement highlights how the line is designed to complement existing support measures available to agri-food businesses, reinforcing a cohesive framework of investment opportunities managed by the Ministry of Agriculture.
As part of the rollout, it was noted that the non-refundable tranche intended to guarantee direct assistance to beneficiaries would include the transfer of one million euros from the PAC headquarters to the IVF for implementation. This move is presented as a strategic augmentation of the available resources, aligning with the broader objective of sustaining agri-food investments in the region. The ministry described the initiative as a complementary element that enhances the range of lines of support already offered for agri-food business investments, ensuring a more integrated and effective support system for the sector.
Experts caution that success will depend on clear project plans, robust financial viability assessments, and solid governance structures within candidate organizations. Nevertheless, the initiative signals a proactive approach by regional authorities to nurture the competitiveness of Valencia’s fruit and vegetable sector. It also demonstrates a willingness to mobilize both public funds and policy instruments to stimulate technological adoption, energy efficiency, and sustainable farming practices across the supply chain. The overarching aim is to create a more resilient and profitable sector that benefits producers, distributors, and consumers alike. [Source: IVF Valencia summary]