The signing of the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture and other climate initiatives are exciting developments but expose scepticism in investors.
While engagement with the process is encouraging, the private agri investment market is having to navigate a patchwork of responsible investment guidelines already established and still taking shape.
The developing country focus of the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems is a bit narrow, but the principles are still significant, according to Paul McMahon, managing director at SLM Partners.
Mark Mansley, investment manager at the £2.2bn Environment Agency Pension Fund, tells Agri Investor about the fund's experience in agriculture and timber investing so far.
The need for growth and investment translates into an $800 million a year opportunity for the PE industry in India, according to Hemendra Mathur, managing director, SEAF India Investment Advisors.
A dip in US farmland values and commodities could impact institutional investment appetite – and perhaps spark some Darwinism among buy-and-lease-focused fund managers.
The private sector has been actively involved in the two-year negotiation process for the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems, according to Robynne Anderson, secretariat for the International Agri-Food Network.
The opportunities for investing into agriculture are endless, according to Jim Rogers, the famed US investor, businessman and author.
Howard Kaplan, founder and president of Farmvest, the agri investment consultancy based in California, explains some of the challenges investors face investing in the US.
Rufo Quintavalle, a private investor and principal at a multi-family office, describes the importance of sustainability in the portfolio.