In November 2025, OeEB signed a mezzanine loan agreement with Pessl Instruments GmbH in the amount of EUR 2 million. The funds are provided by the African-Austrian SME Investment Facility (AAIF+) of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance and will be used to set up a production facility in Cape Town and establish a network of weather stations in Africa.
| Project name | Pessl Instruments |
| Region | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Sector | Industry |
| Service | Private Equity |
| Project country | South Africa |
| OeEB project volume | EUR 2 million |
| International climate finance according to UNFCCC | Yes |
| Additionality | Financial Additionality |
| Project partner(s) | Pessl Instruments GmbH |
Agriculture is central to employment, food security, and the rural economy in South Africa. However, climate change, unreliable weather, droughts, and pest pressure are posing increasing challenges. As a result, there is a growing need for digital solutions that help farms make informed decisions, secure yields, and use resources efficiently.
Pessl Instruments GmbH, founded in 1984 in Weiz, Austria, is one of the leading manufacturers and developers of smart technologies for agriculture. Its product portfolio includes wireless, solar-powered weather stations and sensors, as well as the FieldClimate web platform, which collects agro-meteorological data and converts it into practical recommendations for action. To date, the company has installed over 100,000 weather stations in more than 85 countries, including around 2,070 on the African continent.
The funds provided by OeEB will be used to finance the construction of a production facility for the manufacture and assembly of simple sensors (e.g., rain gauges) in Cape Town. The total annual production capacity is expected to be 10,000 weather stations. The weather data collected will make a significant contribution to promoting climate adaptation by building up the knowledge of local farmers in a targeted manner.