Fund Structure

‘There isn’t resistance out of principle’ from Australian superfunds to investing in agriculture, but barriers remain, says CEFC’s Heechung Sung.

CDPQ's Nicolas Leyssieux and CEFC's Heechung Sung set out how the unusual deal to establish a farmland investment platform while taking an equity stake in Gunn Agri Partners came about.

Paul Pittman says it’s not a fire sale, but the company does aim to boost its stock price in public markets that undervalue the appreciation potential of FPI’s 165k-acre farmland portfolio.

Managing partner Andy Wiltshire says large properties with distinct parcels suitable for agriculture and timberland development are available in countries where the firm already operates and elsewhere.

The Kilter Agriculture Fund will invest in farmland water and is targeting A$65m in a first fundraise that will close later this month.

BTG Timberland Investment Group head Gerrity Lansing says increased appreciation of forestry’s sequestration potential, new entrants and shifting geopolitical sentiment are helping bring about an exciting time for timberland.

Dahab Associates chief investment officer Steven Roth says he expects the $139m pension to finalize a commitment of 5 percent of its total portfolio by the end of the calendar year.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the venture capital downturn of 2022 have created innumerable opportunities across the agtech space.

The March Agri-Tech Innovation Summit suggested the most impactful near-term development in ag could focus as much on partnering for access to customers as on finding new breakthrough technologies.

Dahab Associates director of research Kevin Connolly says farmland allocations are becoming more common among his investment consultant peers, while he sees opportunities narrowing in the market.