Daniel Kemp

Investor submissions argue that current water market is working as intended, but say that more transparency and certainty of information are needed.

Interest from institutional investors and private equity remains strong in Australian agriculture despite difficult conditions because of a belief in the asset class’ ‘long-term thesis’.

The annualized return to the end of September 2019 was 14.37% but continuing drought means that income returns are especially likely to fall further in upcoming quarters.

NAB and Dairy Australia said continuing high input costs, exacerbated by drought, have led to a decline in production, with further falls expected this year.

Federation Asset Management says it will examine vertical farming and greenhouse assets as part of the sustainable infrastructure mandate for its Sustainable Australia Real Assets Fund.

Digital Agriculture Services found a strong correlation between drought-affected and fire-hit land, with 86% of fire-hit land suffering at least a 1-in-10-year rainfall deficit.

The unprecedented bushfire season is playing out in a way that climate scientists predicted years ago, demonstrating again how agriculture assets, especially those in a country like Australia, are vulnerable to climate risk.

Private softwood plantations have also been affected by the Australian bushfire crisis, although the exact areas affected and the scale of the damage remain unknown.

The A$333m transaction includes six terminals across Australia, with a terminal at Port Kembla in NSW excluded due to competition concerns.

The biggest risk to Australian almond yields is high water prices, but orchards Down Under will stay competitive as long as exchange rates remain favorable.