The area of land traded in Australia increased significantly in 2025, but the total value slipped, with large parcels sold in cheaper regions.
Nuveen Natural Capital global head Martin Davies says factors such as a prolonged conflict or depletion of global food reserves could trigger a delayed price spike of staple commodities.
The data also breaks down how annual and permanent cropland have performed, returns by region and trailing-year returns by crop type.
Growth Farms CEO Martin Newnham says the volatility of returns in recent years demonstrates that agriculture is a long-term investment play.
The full-year figures show agri-food and forestry fundraising registered its second-highest haul in the past five years.
Paine Schwartz Partners – last year’s top firm – takes second place as the top five in our Agri-Food and Forestry 20 remain unchanged.
Canada remains the largest foreign holder of Australian water entitlements as total foreign water interests inch higher.
Foreign ownership of Australian agriculture has seen its first increase in two years as North American investors rapidly expand their holdings and the UK claims the top spot.
The pension is rebalancing its real assets portfolio and will increase its weighting to non-core real estate and infrastructure in search of higher returns.
Humanity needs to produce more food on less land, according to the impact-focused fund manager.