Crops

Australia’s agricultural sector achieved double-digit returns last year that were significantly higher than the 9.3% posted in 2015, according to the Australian Farmland Index.

Located north of Perth with its own water resource and easy access to the Dampier gas pipeline, the 6,679-hectare property has already drawn interest from private equity investors within a week of being put on the block.

The US mid-market consumer investor has sold the Canadian coffee roasting company to Italian roasters Lavazza.

Having reduced its debt burden by divesting nearly 50% of Glencore Agri last year, the Swiss commodities giant is looking to expand into the US agri sector.

The investment from the Swiss fund will be spread across Stafford International Timberland Fund VIII, co-investments and its first ag separate account.

Neil Woods, portfolio manager for timber & agri at NZ Super – a significant investor in New Zealand’s agricultural sector – talks about the fund’s plans to diversify by investing outside New Zealand and beyond dairy.

The South Dakota-based private equity firm is targeting Midwest rowcrop farmland investments on behalf of high-net-worth individuals and family offices.

“Prior to the cyclone, crop expectations were some of the best seen in years," Nick Waters, investment director at Blue Sky Alternative Investments, told Agri Investor.

The investment in second vehicle from Agricultural Capital Management marks the first agricultural investment for the $15.6bn pension.

John Ritter’s stint at Teacher Retirement System of Texas coincided with its investment into row and permanent crop farmland-focused Teays River.