ICO-MAPA-SAECA Grants for Agricultural Sector in Middle East: Direct Bonifications in 2026

Key data

Farmers, livestock breeders, fishing operators and agri-food industries working with ICO-SAECA financing have access as of July 7, 2026 to a new line of direct aid linked to operations related to the Middle East. The Resolution of July 22, 2026 publishes the agreement signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the Official Credit Institute (ICO) and the State Agricultural Guarantee Corporation (SAECA), thus expanding the framework of the ICO-MAPA-SAECA Line created in 2022 under RDL 4/2022.

The key for the sector: these aids are not loans that must be fully repaid. They are bonifications of the loan principal, non-reimbursable, which is equivalent to a direct and permanent reduction in the financial cost of the operation.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement expands the ICO-MAPA-SAECA Line, which was created in 2022 to support the primary sector in exceptional situations, now adding a specific component called "ICO-MAPA-SAECA/Middle East". This new component is integrated within the existing ICO Guarantee Line SGR/SAECA.

The mechanism operates between three actors with differentiated roles:

The aid consists of bonifications of the loan principal, of a non-reimbursable nature. This means that the beneficiary receives a direct reduction on the amount they must repay, not a subsidy on interest rates or a deferment. The impact is immediate and permanent on the total cost of financing.

The agreement is framed within RDL 4/2022 and its successive amendments, which indicates that it is not an isolated regulation but the continuation and expansion of a program that has been active since 2022 and has accumulated allocations exceeding 80 million euros in previous calls.

Economic and operational impact

The non-reimbursable nature of the bonifications is the most relevant data from a financial perspective. Unlike a loan bonified in rates, here the reduction directly affects the principal: the beneficiary repays less capital than they received.

For agri-food companies and primary sector operators, this has two immediate practical consequences:

• Reduction of real financial cost: the bonification on the principal is equivalent to partially free financing, which directly improves the financial result of the operation.
• Facilitated access through public guarantee: SAECA provides the guarantee, which allows access to financing for companies or farms that would otherwise not obtain favorable conditions in the market.

The fact that the framework has accumulated more than 80 million euros in previous calls since 2022 indicates that this is a program with track record and real allocation, not a token line. The incorporation of the "Middle East" component opens access to operators with activity or exposure in that geographic region.

From an operational perspective, operations must be formalized within the ICO Guarantee Line SGR/SAECA, which implies going to a financial entity collaborating with the ICO to process the operation.

Who does it affect?

• Holders of agricultural farms that formalize operations within the ICO Guarantee Line SGR/SAECA.
• Fishing operators with activity linked to operations related to the Middle East.
• Agri-food industries that access financing through the ICO-SAECA channel.
• Livestock breeders included in the scope of the primary sector under RDL 4/2022.
• Financial entities collaborating with the ICO, which act as a distribution channel and must know the specific conditions of this component.

Practical example

An agri-food export company with operations linked to Middle East markets needs financing to cover a production cycle. It goes to a financial entity collaborating with the ICO and formalizes an operation within the ICO Guarantee Line SGR/SAECA.

Thanks to the ICO-MAPA-SAECA/Middle East agreement:

• SAECA provides the public guarantee, which allows the company to access financing without the need for additional own guarantees.
• The company receives a bonification on the loan principal, non-reimbursable: if the loan is €200,000, part of that principal is bonified and does not have to be fully repaid.
• The result is financing with an effective cost lower than the market, with public backing and without the need to repay the entire capital received.

This mechanism is especially useful for operators with tight margins or with difficulties accessing conventional bank guarantees.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify eligibility: check if the activity fits the beneficiary profiles (farm holder, fishing operator or agri-food industry) and if the operations are linked to the Middle East scope.
2. Contact a financial entity collaborating with the ICO: operations must be formalized through the usual ICO banking channel. Consult the list of collaborating entities on the ICO website.
3. Request the SAECA guarantee: the public guarantee from SAECA is the element that enables access to bonified financing. Start the application process as soon as possible, given that allocations are limited.
4. Review the framework of RDL 4/2022 and its amendments: the agreement is integrated into a cumulative regulatory framework; knowing the general conditions avoids rejections due to unmet formal requirements.
5. Document the link with the Middle East: given that this component is specific for operations related to that region, prepare the documentation that proves such link before starting the application.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-17674)

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17674