Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation

What Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation does

Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation (LAAD) is a private investment and development company founded in 1968/1970 and headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, that finances small and medium-sized agribusiness companies across 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The company generates revenue primarily through interest income on medium-to-long-term loans (US$200,000 to US$7,000,000, typically 5–7 year terms) and revolving lines of credit used for fixed assets, working capital, debt refinancing, and crop financing. Loan proposals are underwritten by credit committees and originated through a relationship-driven, in-person field sales model executed by local representatives in regional offices spanning Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

LAAD's core product set comprises Medium-to-Long-Term Loans, Revolving Lines of Credit, and a Green Finance line launched under a CICERO Green-rated Green Finance Framework (Medium Green), with US$63.6 million committed to climate adaptation and resource efficiency projects. The Social and Environmental Management System (SEMS) provides an internal risk evaluation framework rather than a proprietary technology platform — LAAD's technical footprint is conventional financial services infrastructure without disclosed AI/ML components. The company also operates special initiatives including the LAAD Sustainability Award (launched Colombia 2024, expanding to Mexico 2025) and scholarship programs at four Latin American agricultural universities.

LAAD's shareholder base is unusually institutional, comprising Bank of America, Ralston Purina (co-founders), Bayer, Cargill, Dole, Gerber, Goodyear, KfW, IFC, Rabobank, John Deere, and ATU. As of fiscal year 2024, the cumulative loan portfolio surpassed US$1 billion, with US$366 million disbursed in the year and 7,294 full and part-time jobs facilitated among borrowers. The fiscal year ends October 31.

Name

Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation

Legal name

Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation

Website

https://laadsa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation (LAAD) is a Coral Gables-headquartered private investment firm that finances small and medium-sized agribusiness companies across 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean via medium-to-long-term loans and revolving credit lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agribusiness Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Credit / Direct Lending (FSAAAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Agribusiness lending
• Agricultural financing
• Rural development finance
• SME agricultural loans
• Green agribusiness finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Coral Gables

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: LAAD generates revenue through interest on medium-to-long-term loans and revolving lines of credit provided to small and medium-sized agribusiness companies. Loans typically fund fixed assets, working capital, debt refinancing, and crop financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LAAD provides medium-to-long-term loans (typically 2 to 10 years) and revolving lines of credit, generally ranging from US$200,000 to US$7,000,000, to small and medium-sized agribusiness companies across Latin America and the Caribbean. Its mandate focuses on financing fixed assets, working capital, and sustainable/green projects for SMEs in the agricultural value chain that lack access to traditional bank credit.

Product overview

LAAD is a private investment and development company offering financing products to small and medium-sized agribusiness companies across Latin America and the Caribbean. The core product portfolio consists of Medium-to-Long-Term Loans (ranging from $200,000 to $7,000,000 with 7-year terms) and Revolving Lines of Credit for short-term working capital needs. These financing products support fixed asset purchases, working capital, and debt refinancing. Additionally, LAAD offers Green Finance products classified under their CICERO Green-rated Green Finance Framework, which supports clients' carbon reduction, climate adaptation, and environmental performance. The company also operates special initiatives including the LAAD Sustainability Award (recognizing client environmental and social impact) and four scholarship programs at agricultural universities. The Social & Environmental Management System (SEMS) serves as an operational framework for evaluating and monitoring environmental and social risks across all lending activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medium-to-Long-Term Loans

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 billion in loans disbursed since founding in 1970
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CICERO GreencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CICERO Green provided a Second Opinion on LAAD's Green Finance Framework, rating it as MEDIUM GREEN and finding it aligned with Green Loan Principles and Green Bond Principles. CICERO Green is recognized as the leading provider of independent reviews of green loans and green bonds.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Root Capital: Nonprofit agricultural lender providing credit to small and growing agribusinesses in Latin America and Africa. Highly comparable to LAAD in mission, target borrower (SMB agricultural cooperatives), and loan size, serving overlapping geographies in LAC.
• responsAbility Investments AG: Swiss impact asset manager providing debt and equity financing to financial intermediaries and agribusiness SMEs in emerging markets. Directly comparable to LAAD in target segment (rural SMBs), emerging-market lending model, and DFI-aligned investor base.
• Oikocredit: International cooperative providing loans and equity to microfinance, agribusiness, and renewable energy in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Comparable to LAAD in developmental mandate, SMB agribusiness lending focus, and LAC presence.
• Incofin Investment Management: Belgian impact investment manager specializing in inclusive finance and agribusiness lending in emerging markets. Highly comparable to LAAD in DFI-aligned structure, agricultural SME lending, and emerging-market credit focus.
• ProCredit Holding: Group of development-oriented banks providing finance to small and medium enterprises in emerging markets, including agribusiness. Comparable to LAAD in SMB lending model, emerging-market focus, and developmental mandate.

Broad incumbents

• FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): Large Dutch DFI providing debt and equity to financial institutions and agribusiness in emerging markets. Comparable as a larger DFI with agribusiness exposure and a LAAD shareholder; broader mandate and balance sheet than LAAD.
• DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft): German DFI (subsidiary of KfW) financing private-sector projects in emerging markets, including agribusiness. Comparable to LAAD as a DFI with agribusiness focus and a related shareholder (KfW is a LAAD shareholder); operates with broader sector mandate.
• IDB Invest: Inter-American Development Bank's private-sector arm financing SMEs and agribusiness across Latin America and the Caribbean. Highly comparable in geography and developmental mandate; larger balance sheet and broader sector coverage than LAAD.
• Rabobank: Global Dutch bank specializing in food and agribusiness financing worldwide, with strong LAC presence. Comparable to LAAD in agribusiness specialization; vastly larger balance sheet and global footprint, and also a LAAD shareholder.

Regional players

• Banrural (Grupo Financiero Banrural): Guatemalan commercial bank focused on agricultural and rural lending across Central America. Comparable to LAAD in agricultural SMB lending and Central American geography; operates as a regulated bank rather than a private DFI.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/latin-american-agribusiness-development-corporation-s-a-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation