Emerging Markets

The World Bank's political risk and credit insurance arm has insured EcoPlanet Bamboo South Africa for $8.6m.

For those with a hearty appetite for risk, the rewards of investing in African agri can be enormous, says consultant Emma Cowan of Cardy-Brown. But be careful where you tread and with whom.

Root Capital, an agri impact fund, reached $100m in active loans last week as Agriterra, the Dutch agri-agency, is getting increasing interest in its projects from private capital investors.

The USAID initiative will launch a new competition for innovators with tech solutions that address the challenge of limited water for food production in developing countries.    

The French fruit producer, exporter and distributor has attracted investment from subsidiaries of Société Générale and Crédit Agricole and food and agri investment firm Unigrains.

The impact fund is aimed at promoting sustainably-sourced food and smallholder farming communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Emma Cowan, independent agribusiness consultant, describes the changing landscape for commodities amid a shift in biofuel and BRIC countries’ growth potential.

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Food Security Index showed an average improvement across the globe in 2014.

Report says irrigation systems, hybrid seeds and micro-loans can all help poor farmers.

Business incubator Rural Agri Ventures will address the demand/supply gap across dairy, logistics, infrastructure, animal feed and water management among other sub-sectors.