Emerging Markets

The head of external management at AP Fonden 2, which committed $750m to a TIAA fund in 2014, tells Agri Investor why the Swedish pension favors core farmland investments.

The $8.3bn pension has changed return benchmarks and earmarked one-fifth of its 7% real assets allocation for agriculture, timber and other natural resources investments.

Agriculture demand is set to soar as Brazil’s 21 million middle-class households become increasingly health-conscious, according to the USDA.

Private capital has its eyes set on central Europe's largest economy despite legislative uncertainty and a relative lack of scale, Abris partner Monika Nachyla tells Agri Investor.

The $10m loan will support National Fisheries Developments’ addition of a new vessel as part of ongoing efforts to increase employment in the South Pacific nation of 635,000 people.

The UK-based DFI plans to use the farm as a hub for a regional development effort aiming to stimulate commercial agriculture in the southern African nation.

The sector is being encouraged as part of efforts to make up for ‘shortages of resources’ at a time when Beijing cracks down on deals targeting the likes of real estate, hotels and entertainment.

Backed by the US firm’s $70m Brazil Renewables Fund, the $115m project is the first of ‘multiple plants’ Summit intends to build within the next two years.

The addition of Peter Bryde comes as the TIAA/Nuveen affiliate expands its agricultural investments in Europe through a dedicated fund.

Training in farming practices and efficient water use will come as part of a $40m program designed to help aid the West African nation recover from civil war.