Guest Writer

As institutions look to commit 20% of their portfolios to real assets, agri investing will gain popularity. But investment managers must be careful to ensure they have the right on-the-ground management, argues Detlef Schoen, head of farm investments at Aquila Capital.

Australian agribusinesses need equity to fund their growth and take advantage of promising market conditions. BDO national leader for food and agribusiness Anne Lockwood explains what they can do to attract investment.

Agricultural managers and consultants Brown & Co have been active in Central and Eastern Europe since 1998. Stephen Hall, who advises on investment strategy and sources opportunities, talks through the big players and the possible strategies in the eastern European country.

Two lawyers look in more detail at the new Australian foreign investment rules, and assess the likelihood of deals being rejected.

A recent survey in Italy on food labelling has highlighted that origin, especially Italian origin, is crucial to the country’s consumers. They are prepared to pay a premium for this information, too. Ilario Giangrossi and Chiara Bicci of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Milan office discuss the opportunities that arise from this end-customer focus.

Hemendra Mathur, a managing director at Small Enterprise Assistance Funds’ India Investment Advisors, highlights the three fundamentals investors into food services businesses in the country must bear in mind.

The most recent ABARES farm survey report paints an improved picture for broadacre farms with farm cash incomes continuing to exceed long-term averages, writes Jackie White, director, agribusiness advisory at Deloitte.

Stafford Capital Partners closed its $484m timberland fund of funds at the end of May. Partner Thomas Goodrich talks about the maturation of timberland as an asset class and why inefficiences in the sector make secondaries a good opportunity.

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, has €6 billion to allocate and is looking for opportunities in food and agriculture, according to Cathal Fitzgerald, head of food and agriculture investments at ISIF.

There is huge demand for agriculture investments in the Middle East region, but the $1.2tn Islamic finance markets need more suitable products in the sector, according to Saif Shawqi, assistant business developer at Shariyah Review Bureau.