Invest International is providing €3.5 million in financing to the Dutch company ByBlue, a specialist in the import, distribution, and development of blueberry varieties. The loan will enable ByBlue to establish a sustainable, high-tech blueberry farm in Peru's strategically located Ica Valley. The investment directly addresses a supply gap in the market and strengthens the Netherlands' position as a central hub in the international fruit trade. The knowledge gained from cultivating the new blueberry varieties will also be shared with other growers to promote more sustainable production.
© ByBlue
The demand for blueberries continues to grow strongly, especially in Europe and Asia. However, each year there is a supply shortage from September to December, when the harvest season in the northern hemisphere ends and supplies from the southern hemisphere have yet to arrive. ByBlue's new production site in Peru has been specifically designed to fill this gap. Thanks to a unique, greenhouse-like microclimate, the Ica Valley offers a long harvest season from August to December, making it ideal for supplying the European market during this period.
© ByBlue
Dutch innovation closes market gap
"Although ByBlue was successfully financed in the Netherlands, finding capital to expand into Peru proved challenging. Commercial banks usually do not or only partially finance such transactions, as they are often relatively small in size and carry a higher risk profile. Invest International therefore provides additional financing options for the international activities of Dutch SMEs. In doing so, Invest International contributes to the earning capacity of the Netherlands," said Michiel Slootweg, Director Private Sector at Invest International.
He continued: "ByBlue not only closes a gap in the food chain, it also combines Dutch innovation with global impact. This is the kind of entrepreneurship we support through the Dutch Good Growth Fund, which we manage on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: a project with strong potential that might otherwise not get off the ground."
© ByBlue
"We are not just growing blueberries; we are building a future-proof and sustainable chain," said Horacio Ozer Ami, founder of ByBlue. "With Invest International's funding, we can grow our own developed varieties in the climate of the Ica Valley. This gives us greater control over the chain and allows us to guarantee the best quality year-round."
Local impact and sustainable technology
The new farm, developed in collaboration with local partner Wellness Fruit, will initially cover 30 hectares. The project will create 20 full-time jobs and around 600 seasonal jobs in a region where the blueberry sector is the largest agricultural employer, particularly for women. The farm will use state-of-the-art water and energy efficiency technologies to address the well-known water challenges in the region.
For more information:
Horacio Ozer Ami
ByBlue
Lagendijk 160A
2988 AD Ridderkerk
Tel: +31852130391
[email protected]