The huge reduction in China's hog herd over the last 18 months puts the European Union, the US and Canada in the frame for the predicted increase in imports.
Agribusiness attracted approximately 11 percent of the total investment, the majority in dairy and milk processing.
As risks increase across a variety of sectors, lower-risk agri will become an increasingly important part of the portfolio of institutional investors, according to a paper released by an Australian think tank.
The decade-long increase in US farmland prices had been tipped to come to an end, so the news last week that values had defied these predictions was received with surprise – and some scepticism.
China's agriculture industry has been challenged by a lack of economies of scale, low-tech farming techniques and broken value chains - but an even more fundamental issue is on the horizon.
Development of sales channels, rather than the size of the investment, is the key factor for making a positive investment return in the Chinese beef market, the report says.
Investing in family farmers and smallholders is the key to the "inclusive growth" which will drive the world's population out of hunger, says the FAO.
The NCREIF index shows a negative appreciation return and a flat market value per acre.
A report by Savills and Scottish Woodlands suggests forestry is performing well, with transaction values rising and timber prices providing a boost this year.
The UN body's report suggests $267bn of extra investment a year is necessary to lift an estimated 800 million out of poverty.