Sustainability

The Australian government wants to hit a 90% reduction in the costs of measuring soil carbon to ‘transform the economics’ of soil carbon projects for farmers.

The Impact Alternatives Fund will invest up to 30% of its capital in regen ag and up to 20% in environmental assets in response to investor feedback.

The two firms, which have previously collaborated on a water investment vehicle, have received A$500,000 to explore the business case for a new fund.

Gunn Agri Partners says its new sustainable farmland fund will link manager fees to ESG performance in what is believed to be a first for the sector.

Gunn Agri Partners revealed that the Gunn Agri Cattle Fund, which is now fully deployed, reported EBITDA of A$19.7m for the year ending June 2020.

HSBC Pollination will launch a $1bn fund that will invest in forestry and agriculture as well as a $2bn carbon credit fund that will invest in carbon abatement assets such as rain forests.

CEFC has made its first investment in carbon sequestration with a A$1.7m commitment to the Soil Carbon Company.

The manager has lowered the fundraising target for its Australian Farmlands Fund due to restrictions on movement, but says investor appetite for assets remains strong, especially overseas.

BSIF has invested in a wide range of projects to date and has received strong backing from British pension funds, two of which have established co-investment portfolios.

The A$52 billion industry superfund has set a target to achieve net zero emissions in its portfolio by 2050, as part of a broader Climate Change Transition Plan.