Commentary

Australia’s place among the biggest global food producers could be to blame for its worrying lack of urgency and investment in agtech, says Farmbot managing director Andrew Coppin.

The family office of Andrew Forrest has recently added an aquaculture vertical to its existing beef business – and has plans for significant growth.

From Turkey to the US, private equity is eyeing up opportunities across the world and throughout the value chain, with little sign of a diminishing appetite.

PSP head of natural resources Marc Drouin said the pension would look to do more post-farmgate investments in Australia and could work with local funding partners more in future.

The private equity industry must decide how its long-established fiduciary duty fits with a crisis like this.

Public market flotations by highly coveted and well-funded ag start-ups have followed in the footsteps of Beyond Meat’s 2019 IPO, adding to the growing signs of industry maturity.

This year’s health crisis has made single-asset transactions more appealing for a host of reasons.

Real estate investors looking for steady returns are beginning to view sale-and-leaseback agriculture assets as core investments, Colliers says.

Environmental stakeholders are accustomed to thinking about natural benefits such as pollination as a ‘service’ – investors will need to do the same to grasp the natural capital opportunity.

Gunn Agri Partners says its new sustainable farmland fund will link manager fees to ESG performance in what is believed to be a first for the sector.