Al Barbarino

Farm management software company FarmLogs has raised a $22 million Series C round of financing led by a new investor into the firm, Naspers Ventures, with follow-on participation from existing investors Drive Capital, Huron River Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners, SV Angel and Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator.

With the global economy expected to grow 2.7 percent in 2017, agricultural prices are projected to remain stable amid a healthy pipeline of key grains, but one of the greatest global challenges remains the need for investment into SubSaharan Africa to improve farm productivity, according to a new report from the World Bank.

According to the Tenure, Ownership and Transition of Agricultural Land survey, conducted by USDA in 2014, US farmland owners expect to transfer 93 million acres to new ownership during 2015-2019.

Canadian private equity firm Fulcrum Capital Partners has provided growth capital out of its $344 million Private Equity Fund V to Vitalus Nutrition, a provider of specialty cream and milk protein ingredients.

Chicago-based private equity firm Kenex Holdings has acquired Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts, an Aiea, Hawaii-based manufacturer of mochi ice cream.

Venture capital firm SOSV has closed its first fund open to external investors, SOSV III, at $150 million.

Britain’s environment secretary has promised to abolish what she referred to as the “ridiculous, bureaucratic three-crop rule,” amplifying a debate with environmentalists.

During the final throes of 2016, we outlined some key topics that warrant extra attention for private equity investors looking at agriculture in the New Year.

Charlesbank had acquired Geneva, Illinois-based Peacock, which operates seven manufacturing facilities totaling more than two million sq ft in California, Illinois and Ohio, in 2010.

Private investors are becoming less concerned about the complicated stigma surrounding marijuana, recognizing viable – and legal – pathways into the market through existing and emerging funds.