Food

Leaving the EU could lead to some painful years for UK agribusinesses, warned researcher Allan Buckwell, but is unlikely to lead to a long-term slump in farmland prices.

Ardian has completed a deal to add Solina Group to its $55bn portfolio before a public sale could be announced, and will seek to expand the group internationally.

Chinese pork consumption continues to slow but a reduction in the herd could still mean a year of recovery for exporters in the Americas and Europe.

As private equity firms Actis and Old Mutual South Africa invest in South African convenience food, they tell Agri Investor about the rise in the sector and their expansion plans, despite a drought in the country.

Private equity is lagging on animal welfare issues, but the Business Benchmark for Animal Welfare is keen to get private investors onboard.

The state-owned enterprise could be the latest Chinese company to enter into the global agriculture industry, after its failed takeover bid for the Swiss seed giant last year.

Steak Tzar Tzar aims to break into the protein powder industry in the US as well as emerging markets that eat whole insects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The paper says private companies concentrate too much on short-term profit margins, and that more research has to be carried out with public funding.

Sunny Delight has been acquired by a second private equity firm after Procter & Gamble sold the juice-based drinks brand's North American businesses in 2004.

SLM partner Paul McMahon also said that ecological farming was safer than many intensive models as a long-term investment, with operational and underlying value of assets remaining more stable.