Rize Secures IDR 10 Billion Loan Facility from Rabo Foundation to Scale Climate-Smart Rice Farming in Indonesia

Jakarta, 28 May, 2025

PT Rize Farm Indonesia (“Rize”), an agri-tech company revolutionizing sustainable rice cultivation in Southeast Asia, has secured a loan facility of IDR 10 billion (~USD 650,000) from the Rabo Foundation. The financing will support input and services provisions for smallholder rice farmers transitioning to low-emission practices, particularly the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) methodology.

The facility aims to accelerate adoption of climate-smart agriculture across Rize’s farmer network in West and Central Java. Farmers will receive essential inputs—such as high-quality seeds, crop protection and fertilizers—alongside mechanization services and technical guidance to shift from traditional flooding techniques to AWD, a proven method to reduce methane emissions by up to 50% while maintaining yields.

“This partnership with Rabo Foundation is a strong vote of confidence in Rize’s model to scale decarbonization from the ground up,” said Dhruv Sawhney, CEO of Rize. “With this facility, we’re strengthening Rize’s approach that combines technology, agronomy, and financing to unlock lasting change at scale to build a greener rice sector while supporting rural livelihoods.”

The loan has a strong focus to deliver on impact-KPI’s and includes a performance-linked interest rate: Rize will benefit from lower rates if loan performance remains strong. The company will also provide regular impact and portfolio quality reports to Rabo Foundation.

“Supporting smallholders in their transition to sustainable practices is core to our mission,” said Jan Postmus, Impact Finance Manager Asia at Rabo Foundation. “We are thrilled to be the first lender to Rize. The loan to Rize can boost the transitioning to AWD methodology. This will result in lower methane emissions meanwhile also creating higher incomes to the smallholder famers. A classical win-win situation,” Cynthia Kesuma, local representative of Rabo Foundation in Indonesia, adds: “I visited Rize for the first time in 2023 when the company just got started and provided their first inputs to the farmers. It is amazing to see how Rize has progressed in such a short span of time”

Rize is dedicated to revolutionising rice farming in Asia through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the promotion of sustainable practices. Its platform identifies and implements effective strategies and economic incentives to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly farming techniques. Rize currently operates in Indonesia and Vietnam and has raised over USD 14 million to date from leading climate and agritech investors, including Temasek, Wavemaker Impact, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and GenZero. The company aims to reach 100,000 rice farmers by 2028 while enabling access to carbon markets and green financing.

Rabo Foundation is the impact-driven arm of Rabobank, committed to improving rural livelihoods by providing access to finance for smallholder farmers and agricultural SMEs in emerging markets. Active in over 20 countries, Rabo Foundation collaborates with mission-aligned partners to scale inclusive, sustainable agricultural models. By offering patient capital and tailored support, the Foundation enables farmers to grow their income, strengthen food systems, and adapt to climate challenges.

Rabobank Foundation Team visiting Rize farmers in Indonesia, September 2024