• Garanti BBVA issued a €30 million ($34 million) green bond to finance climate adaptation in Türkiye’s agricultural sector.
• Proceeds will support sustainable farming, land management, efficient irrigation, water systems, and agricultural infrastructure.
• The bank has reached about 

Garanti BBVA Issues €30M Green Bond for Agriculture

Istanbul’s agricultural economy is facing sharper climate pressure, from water stress to production volatility. Garanti BBVA is now directing fresh sustainable finance into that challenge through a €30 million green bond aimed at climate adaptation in agriculture.

The bond has a maturity of one year and two days. It was issued under the bank’s international funding program and Garanti BBVA Sustainable Debt Finance Framework. Proceeds will finance sustainable agriculture projects across Türkiye.

The funding is earmarked for organic and sustainable agricultural production. It will also support land management practices, efficient irrigation infrastructure, water management systems, and agricultural infrastructure. The bank said the financing will help make agricultural activity more resilient to climate change.

Agriculture Moves Higher on the Climate Finance Agenda

Agriculture sits at the center of several ESG priorities. Food security, water use, land stewardship, rural livelihoods, and emissions all meet in the sector. For Türkiye, the stakes are also economic. Farming communities face rising exposure to drought, heat, and changing rainfall patterns.

Garanti BBVA’s issuance points to a wider shift in sustainable finance. Banks are moving beyond renewable power and energy efficiency. They are also targeting adaptation, nature-linked resilience, and climate-exposed sectors that affect national stability.

Commenting on the issuance, Mahmut Akten, CEO of Garanti BBVA, said: “At Garanti BBVA, we view sustainable finance as a key tool for supporting the transformation of Türkiye’s economy.”

Akten highlighted the strategic role of agriculture in both food security and climate adaptation. He said the bond will help finance climate adaptation in sustainable agriculture. He also noted that climate impacts are becoming more visible. For Türkiye, he said, investment in resilient agricultural production is essential for the country’s future.

That message is likely to resonate with policymakers and investors. Adaptation finance remains underdeveloped compared with mitigation finance. Yet physical climate risk is already affecting supply chains, asset values, and sovereign resilience.

RELATED ARTICLE: Garanti BBVA Announces Intermediate Decarbonization Targets

Sustainable Debt Targets Scale Up

The issuance forms part of Garanti BBVA’s broader sustainable finance strategy. The bank has raised its sustainable finance target for the 2018 to 2029 period to TRY 3.5 trillion. By the end of the first quarter of 2026, it had achieved about TRY 1.3 trillion of that goal.

That scale matters for executives tracking climate finance in emerging markets. Türkiye needs capital for energy transition, industrial competitiveness, agricultural resilience, and natural resource protection. Domestic lenders can play a central role by linking international funding programs to local investment needs.

Garanti BBVA said it will continue developing sustainable funding sources. It will also support the transformation of sustainable agriculture and the protection of natural resources.

The green bond structure gives investors a clear use-of-proceeds pathway. Capital will flow into projects that help producers adapt to climate impacts. These include more efficient irrigation and water management systems, which are becoming critical as climate pressure rises.

What Executives and Investors Should Watch

For C-suite leaders, the bond highlights a practical point. Climate strategy can no longer focus only on emissions reduction. Adaptation now belongs in financial planning, supply chain resilience, and sector lending.

For investors, the transaction adds to the growing pool of labeled debt tied to resilience. It also shows how sustainable debt frameworks can direct capital into sectors where climate risk is immediate. Agriculture is one of those sectors.

Governance will remain important. Investors will expect credible project selection, transparent reporting, and alignment with the bank’s sustainable debt framework. They will also want evidence that financed projects deliver measurable resilience benefits.

Garanti BBVA said it will continue financing projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, the circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and social impact. Its latest bond places agriculture firmly within that agenda.

The regional significance is clear. Türkiye’s climate resilience will depend on how quickly finance reaches real economy sectors. Agriculture is one of the most exposed. By directing green bond proceeds into sustainable farming and water systems, Garanti BBVA is linking capital markets to a core national priority with global relevance.