Interoc LT Loan

pending

The proposed IFC investment is a US$20 million loan to Interoc to strengthen its hybrid rice and corn seed production and distribution business in Ecuador. The financing will support research and development, seed multiplication at the San Rafael, Buena Fé and Palestina farms, and seed processing and distribution at the Buena Fe facility. Interoc is an Ecuadorian agribusiness company specializing in hybrid rice and maize seed production. Its operations span the full seed value chain—from research and development, through multiplication and processing, to nationwide distribution. The company operates dedicated farms San Rafael (224 ha) and Palestina (14 ha), where hybrid seed multiplication is carried out, as well as a processing and distribution hub at Buena Fe. This integrated approach ensures quality control, reliability, and scalability in meeting Ecuador’s growing demand for improved seed varieties. At the core of its strategy, Interoc aligns agricultural productivity with sustainability. By investing in hybrid rice and corn seed development and integrated biological crop management, it reduces dependency on traditional inputs and enhances farmer competitiveness.The San Rafael farm is located approximately 130 Km east of Guayaquil and 2 Km from the town of San Rafael. The farm has been operating since the 1950s and was acquired by Interoc in 2024 and has been historically used to grow corn and other agricultural commodities. The Palestina farm is located 82 Km north of Guayaquil is used for research and development (R&D) and was acquired by Interoc in 2022. Both farms are located in an area where agricultural activities are predominant. Interoc also manages a research and development laboratory and a highly mechanized processing facility in the town of Buena Fe, located 200 Km north of Guayaquil. The facility is used for seed processing, storage, classification, packaging, sale and distribution. It has capabilities for drying, shelling, cleaning, grading, gravity separation, sizing, treatment, and packaging, as well as critical cold-storage infrastructure that maintains seed viability in tropical conditions, supports export sales, and enables reliable off-season supply. The facility is a 15,000 m2 plot located in peri-urban area of the town of Buena Fe. To reach its core market of smallholder farmers, Interoc provides direct marketing, personalized technical support, and large-scale educational events.