Permanent Crops

The Australian Farmland Index has posted a positive annualized return for the second quarter in a row after eight consecutive quarters of negative returns.

CBRE’s Manuel Albuquerque says bid/ask spreads have tightened in an Iberian region with attributes that have been highlighted by challenges facing other global markets.

LAWD’s Danny Thomas expects the ‘big silverback gorillas’ among international investors to take note of the portfolio.

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.

Investors who have reduced their reliance on the farm inputs most sensitive to geopolitical clashes – or stockpiled these assets early – can navigate an easier way through the storm.

The Bunya Orchards acquisition clears the way for New Forests’ agriculture-focused subsidiary New Agriculture to pursue acquisitions for its debut fund once fundraising is complete.

With its Victoria and New South Wales orchards now mature, Cibus Capital is testing institutional appetite for its 1,000ha almond platform.

Westerra Capital co-founder Scott Porter says a retreat by generalist banks and demand for specialization has created space for a middle-market food and agriculture investment bank.

Frank Austin says the firm is pursuing a $500m regenerative and organic permanent crop strategy designed to deliver double-digit returns without relying on organic price premiums.