Horticulture

Warakirri Asset Management has purchased the seventh and eighth assets for its Diversified Agriculture Fund in a A$22m sale-and-leaseback deal.

Agriculture minister Murray Watt told the 2023 NFF Conference that agriculture was a ‘central priority’ for the government, in response to a critical new NFF campaign arguing against ‘anti-farming’ policies.

Exports of Australian wine to China fell to A$8.1m in 2023 from $1.1bn three years earlier, as tariffs effectively removed the country as a trading partner.

Paine Schwartz Partners has reduced its takeover bid for ASX-listed Costa Group to A$3.20 per share, down from a previous bid of A$3.50, after Costa lowered its forecast earnings for H2 2023.

The amount of Australian farmland in foreign hands fell by 10% in the year to June 30, 2022, according to the latest set of government figures.

The Australian Taxation Office has published its annual report covering the state of its register of foreign ownership of Australian water – with Canadian investors still the largest holders of water entitlements.

Climate Asset Management has acquired a Queensland asset used for sugar cane production, which it will convert to a more biodiverse macadamia orchard.

The Australian government’s proposed intervention in Murray-Darling Basin water markets should be good news for investors in terms of values – but it may come with additional scrutiny should weather conditions get drier.

There are fears that the federal government’s pursuit of 450GL of water through buybacks could cost the state roughly A$15bn, raise water prices and harm food security.

Aither’s annual Water Markets Report shows decline in the Aither Water Entitlement Index, a measure of entitlement values, for the first time in a decade.