Speaker

About the speaker: 

As Lead Financing the Bioeconomy, Richard Piechocki coordinates Rabobank’s strategy on the bioeconomy. The bioeconomy produces products such as food, feed, pharma, materials, and biofuel, from bioresources (carbs, proteins, fibers, oils, fats, vitamins, and minerals). These bioproducts will have a variety of value propositions like health, nutrition, comfort, and energy. It will be one of the pivotal drivers of the food system transition. By supporting the economic integration of bioproducts and materials across sectors with bespoke funding solutions, Rabobank enables the development of a decarbonized, circular green economy.

Richard joined Rabobank after completing his university degree in 1992. He has more than 25 years of varied experience in sustainability. From 1999 to 2005, he was responsible for Rabobank's sustainability ratings and reporting. Between 2006 and 2011, he was as Issue Manager leading the development of sustainability policies in the credit approval process and stakeholder engagement. From 2012 to 2017, he was Senior Sustainable Business Strategist at the Sustainability department responsible for designing, promoting, and implementing sustainability programs related to responsible supply chain custody, traceability, and the circular economy. From 2018 to 2024, he led the global sustainability strategy of Rabobank’s Trade & Commodity Finance as Global Sustainability Officer. 

Company info:

Rabobank is a cooperative bank with a mission. Together with their stakeholders, they have been dedicated to creating a future-proof society and tackling major societal challenges for 125 years. In the Netherlands, they serve retail and corporate customers; globally they focus on the Food & Agriculture sector. Their starting point is: "together we can achieve more than we could alone". They activate local networks, contribute to communities, and support societal transitions. They have reinforced their strategy to be even better able to deal with the fast-changing world, strong competition (including new entrants), and increasing digitalization. Building on their mission of “Growing a better world together”, their ambition is to strengthen their leading position in the Netherlands, be the Food & Agri bank of choice globally, and be the market leader in vendor finance globally. Rabobank is present in 35 countries, has lent loans of EUR 119.8 billion to the Food & Agri sector worldwide, and has 9.2 million customers in the Netherlands.