Crops

Hurdles remain, but opportunities in ESG investment, private credit and from foreign investors point to enormous potential in Australian agriculture.

Higher-than-expected yields have led ABARES to increase its December 2020 production forecast by 7.4%, but summer planting will still be lower than average.

Foreign ownership of Australian farmland increased last year but remained flat as a percentage of the overall total, with China holding the most land.

Founder and chief executive Jonathan Webb says the Morehead, Kentucky-headquartered indoor farming company was built with public market scrutiny in mind.

The CEO of Consolidated Pastoral Company sets out the firm’s plans to expand into cropping and find alternative uses for its land while maintaining cattle production following the MBO led by Hands’ family office.

Managing director Bill Reiman says covid-19 disruption delayed deal closures but increasing farmer interest in sale/leaseback helped the firm match its 2019 capital spend.

The latest figures from the Australian Farmland Index showed good returns for investors in 2020, only falling slightly from the same period one year earlier.

Roc Partners has bought out Emerald Grain from the Japanese conglomerate, at a time when prospects for Australia’s east coast grain industry are positive.

Capital was deployed from the firm’s evergreen ag and timberland vehicle which had a €32m first close at the start of November.

A trade dispute between China and Australia emerged in 2020, with the latter on the receiving end of threats of import suspensions and tariffs. A report from Rural Bank shows the extent to which each commodity could be affected.