Paris, September 26, 2024 - The new partnership of Sofiprotéol and ESFIN Gestion with the Pays de Loire Agricultural Cooperative (CAPL) will enable the cooperative to strengthen its position as a major player in the development of specific seeds, legumes and grains such as quinoa. The project aims to promote the diversity of the region and meet growing consumer expectations for high-quality products.
A long-term commitment to responsible development
The initiative with Sofiprotéol, an Avril business unit specializing in financing and developing players in the French agricultural sectors, and ESFIN Gestion, a subsidiary of Crédit Coopératif, through the IDES dedicated to private equity in the social and solidarity economy, aims to consolidate CAPL's equity capital, thereby supporting the cooperative's development operations and reinforcing its central role in developing the riches of its region.
This partnership is supporting the construction of a new industrial facility in Longué Jumelles (49) for receiving, drying, sorting and husking "Perles d’Anjou" (Pearls of Anjou), value-added seeds, legumes and grains such as quinoa, lentils, chickpeas, buckwheat and other protein seeds intended for human consumption.
The financial operation takes into account social and environmental criteria, supporting CAPL's ambitions in terms of employee safety, gender diversity in its organization and reducing the carbon footprint of its activites.
Relocating and developing the "small seeds, legumes and grains" sector
Created in 1888, the Pays de la Loire Agricultural Cooperative (CAPL) has been able to capitalize over the years on the contractualization in sectors of the cereal and oilseed crops in its region. With "Perles d'Anjou", the Angers-based cooperative has stood out in recent years by developing the high value-added sector of "small" seeds, legumes and grains, in which more than 400 farmers across 2,000 hectares operate for Perles d'Anjou for all seeds, legumes and grains.
The "Perles d’Anjou" project provides real solutions to several challenges:
- Giving cooperative members a wider choice of crops, making it possible to extend crop rotations.
- Addressing societal expectations, by relocating sectors that were previously imported.
- Also addressing growing consumer demand for healthy, sustainable and local food.
Christian Blet, President of CAPL
"Committed for over 10 years to the production of Anjou Quinoa and other highly nutritious seeds, legumes and grains, CAPL (Pays de Loire Agricultural Cooperative) created "Perles d’Anjou", a company and a benchmark industrial site for receiving, drying, sorting and husking proteinaceous food seeds, legumes and grains. The "Perles d’Anjou" company, a CAPL business unit, operates this industrial facility with the aim of promoting the diversity of natural resources in its region. By processing proteinaceous seeds, legumes and grains intended for human consumption, "Perles d’Anjou" is ensuring a virtuous transition to the agriculture of tomorrow."
Cyril Melin, Associate Director, Sofiprotéol
"Perles d’Anjou" addresses the challenges of food and agricultural transition by offering members complementary profitable crops, and consumers local, traceable products of the highest nutritional quality. Sofiprotéol is pleased to support this project which is fully in line with Avril's and Sofiprotéol's purpose of "Serving the Earth".
Thierry Lopez, Member of the ESFIN Gestion Management Board
"We are very pleased to be strengthening our partnership with CAPL on this project, which supports the sector strategy developed by the cooperative for the benefit of its farmer members. This initiative is perfectly in line with ESFIN Gestion's strategy to support companies in the agricultural sector that are investing in sustainability."
Speakers on quasi-equity investment:
For Sofiprotéol: Cyril Melin, Martin Mézières and Anne-Sophie Dubourg
For ESFIN Gestion: Thierry Lopez