Crops

The family office of one of Australia’s richest men is building a significant portfolio of beef and aquaculture assets in Western Australia and plans to expand into grains.

Chief investment officer Jamie Shen says the aftermath of California wildfires has led to a ‘wild ride’ for ag but has given the firm a chance to demonstrate its skill in managing risk.

The fund manager has sold Banongill Station, the first property it acquired for the fund in 2016, to a local farming consortium.

Bonnefield president and CEO Tom Eisenhauer explains why investors need to commit to ag now, his firm’s reasons for steering clear of an own-and-operate strategy and the impact of covid-19.

Managing director Tai Lin says Eat Just Asia will establish a processing facility and a packaging network throughout the region as part of an alternative protein supply chain-focused strategy.

PSP head of natural resources Marc Drouin said the pension would look to do more post-farmgate investments in Australia and could work with local funding partners more in future.

The American university’s endowment is selling further assets after offloading almond and cotton farms to Hancock Agricultural Investment Group earlier this year.

The Diversified Agriculture Fund will deploy approximately A$25m across three foundation assets and will move to an open-end structure to continue raising capital.

Capital appreciation remains low following years of growth, but another quarter of strong income returns saw annualized returns hold up well during the beginning of covid-19.

State Universities Retirement Systems of Illinois' $60m commitment to Homestead Farmland Fund III puts the vehicle just shy of the $550m mark.