Sustainability

The Australian government’s clean energy investment agency has continued its push into agriculture, backing alternative proteins start-up All G Foods.

The blended-finance impact vehicle was initiated by the UN and has made five investments with underlying commodities such as cocoa, hazelnuts and timber.

A funding round for Sea Forests, backed by MIRA, demonstrates that investors are keen to find ESG-positive investments in agriculture even if they carry risk.

Sheep industry ‘will not shy away’ from questions over sustainability as regular performance benchmarks will be established to monitor progress.

Universally recognized authenticity checks, price points created by non-arbitrary forces and a way to reward those already farming sustainably are needed – this is a market with a lot left to prove.

Sustainability manager Nick Reinke says ag carbon credits are ‘a long way away from a free-flowing market’ and prices are ‘a bit arbitrary at this point.’

The private equity industry must decide how its long-established fiduciary duty fits with a crisis like this.

Public market flotations by highly coveted and well-funded ag start-ups have followed in the footsteps of Beyond Meat’s 2019 IPO, adding to the growing signs of industry maturity.

The firm says it signed the pledge because action is needed through policy and business to better mitigate global biodiversity risks.

The investment is Tenacious’s first outside Australia and the second overall from its inaugural fund, which closed in Q1 2020.