real assets

Global head of OCIO and fiduciary services Eric Menzer says private ag debt, farmland and timber vehicles are within scope for a 'hybrid' vehicle that also includes investments in public companies.

The recent rally in farmland values has prompted longtime participants and observers to consider important ways the markets have changed and are likely to continue evolving.

International Farming Corporation recently acquired a Washington state grower, packer and shipper of apples, cherries and pears.

The unit is the first of several collaborations envisioned for the C$390bn pension’s sustainable land management program, says managing director Nicolas Leyssieux.

Soli operated as Shenandoah Growers before a rebranding announced in October, alongside a $120m agreement supporting construction of three indoor farms.

Pierre-Henri Carles says the French firm has already collected €70m from Italian retail investors and expects to reach €100m by the end of 2021 before turning to institutional capital.

Farmland Opportunity president Jay Girotto says the full land market impact of recent ‘feast, then famine’ production dynamics in Pacific Northwest remains to seen.

The $11.6bn pension’s chief investment officer Carlos Borromeo says the two firms were selected from a list of seven in a search to fill a farmland allocation added for diversification.

Agriculture accounts for almost 20% of the $3.9bn pension’s real return portfolio, of which timber’s share is 2%.

Progress in land market reform will be celebrated when Joe Biden meets with his Ukrainian counterpart next week, but the path forward is far from clear.