Asia-Pacific

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’.

Head of South Asia Srini Nagarajan says food and agri investments in the region have been ‘ignored substantially’ by private equity.

The Japanese investment giant has acquired stake in Minh Phu Seafood after first investing in an affiliated company in 2013.

Report from the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre proposes a cluster that would enable Australia to increase its exports of fresh fruit and vegetables, and other commodities.

The fund has already raised more than $250m, mainly from Taiwanese life insurers, and will focus on attracting commitments from public pension funds over the next year.

The partnership with Biomass Group will initially aim to produce 150,000 tonnes of biomass pellets a year.