Dairy

VC investment into agtech has grown 75% since 2014 and looks keen to keep growing as the sector offers opportunities across types of investors.

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.

Some US LPs have ‘formal mandates to reduce their allocation to Asia’ due to the US-China trade war, said Proterra Asia managing partner Tai Lin.

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.

Public market flotations by highly coveted and well-funded ag start-ups have followed in the footsteps of Beyond Meat’s 2019 IPO, adding to the growing signs of industry maturity.

Lion Dairy & Drinks is Australia’s second-largest milk processor but the proposed sale did not include any farmland, an area of concern during previously blocked Chinese takeover bids.

AGP and four other investors have committed A$13m to the livestock feed additive start-up that has been shown to reduce methane emissions from beef and dairy production by up to 80%.

Partner Elisabeth Hivon says anaerobic digesters like the one in Twin Falls will likely be the focus of the infrastructure specialists’ ag-related investments in North America.

Perfect Day is pioneering a fermentation production process for dairy products that does not have any animal dairy content and is lactose-free.

ADM Capital senior investment director Alastair Cooper says Connecterra has the capacity to reduce antibiotic use by 50% and 'totally get rid of the need for any hormones.'