Institutional Investors

The DFI is building a dedicated team to focus on food and agri investments as part of a plan to increase its exposure to the sector across Asia.

The Church Commissioners for England has acquired a £49m UK forestry portfolio. This takes its timber allocation above target.

For agri-focused investment managers, the need to inform the investing community about the opportunity is still as relevant as ever.

The state's education sector trust will issue an RFP for alternative ownership in the second half of next year after a $3m loss on the forestland in 2013.

The REIT has bought over 200,000 acres of timberland from a 2006-vintage timber fund managed by Resource Management Services.

The US timberland firm has appointed Thomas Ringo as chief executive. The firm has three timber funds.

The AXA Group fund of funds house has launched the Architas Diversified Real Assets Fund and is looking for direct timber opportunities.

Conversations in London this week centred on a potential shift in institutional demand and the surprise upwards tick in commodities futures.

Global Environment Fund, CDC’s forestry manager, has received interest from a number of continental and north European pension funds.

New Zealand Superannuation Fund is keen to boost its timber and agri portfolios overseas.