Commodities

Categorization, commodity risk and accessing scale are among the issues Australian superannuation funds cite when it comes to investing in agriculture – but foreign pension funds do not appear to have the same misgivings.

Rural Bank’s first-half analysis of Australian farmland shows values continue to rise but at a slower pace than the highs of the last four years.

The battle for ownership of Australian cotton company Namoi Cotton has raised questions about competition within the industry as consolidation plows ahead in the agribusiness sector.

The pair’s venture will pursue nut and superfood investments in Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

The food investment specialist is seeking up to $750m for its follow-on vehicle.

The acquisitions have been made on behalf of an unnamed European client whom Craigmore expects to make further permanent crop acquisitions in NZ.

Rural Bank’s latest agricultural outlook report finds that emissions will be a key focus for Australian farmers, while elevated freight costs will have a mixed impact on exports.

Talk of co-ordinated agricultural trade pressure on China by the US, Brazil and Australia as the PRC stockpiles major commodities is bad news for American farmers and investors.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is concerned that Olam Agri’s proposed takeover of Namoi Cotton could mean higher prices for cotton growers due to reduced competition among ginners.

Annual cropping continue to strongly outperform permanent farmland in the Australian Farmland Index, although returns were still only slightly in positive territory.