New Agriculture announces first dedicated strategy focusing on landscapes and natural capital

New Agriculture, a division of New Forests Asset Management Pty Limited (“New Forests”), a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies, is today announcing a dedicated landscapes strategy for institutional investors.

The strategy will focus on agriculture assets in Australia and New Zealand across sectors including rainfed and irrigated row cropping, horticulture, livestock, and related agriculture infrastructure. It will also seek to access environmental markets such as carbon and biodiversity, renewable energy and conservation covenants.

New Agriculture’s approach includes integrated sustainable land use models, where natural vegetation, agriculture, and forestry are treated as consolidated operational assets, and focuses on optimising landscapes for their highest and best use with an aim to enhance yields, diversify revenue streams, and increase asset values.

David Shelton, Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, New Forests said, “New Forests is recognised as an industry leader, with an established track record of nearly 20 years across both forestry and agriculture. Our approach has always focussed on optimising land use, incorporating multiple revenue streams and environmental outcomes. This strategy represents a logical expansion of that approach and our expertise in this area.”

Bruce King, Director of Agriculture, New Agriculture, “With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, and rising demand for sustainable food and fibre, there is a strong imperative to produce food and fibre more sustainably and to protect natural resources.

Our institutional investor clients are seeking to invest in agriculture assets for their consistent returns as well as the potential to contribute to long term, impactful environmental outcomes.”

Bruce King concluded, “Australia’s agricultural sector has the potential to be at the forefront of the transition from traditional farming methods to new, innovative practices and technologies that improve environmental outcomes, and lead to wider adoption of regenerative practices. We firmly believe that implementing sustainability standards and regenerative practices is essential for achieving sustained returns from agricultural assets.”

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About New Agriculture

New Agriculture was launched by New Forests in August 2022 to both manage the Lawson Grains 100,000-hectare aggregation in Australia and to build a portfolio of agriculture assets globally, starting in Australia and New Zealand.

New Agriculture has since grown and now manages over AUD 1.5 billion in assets across 3.1 million hectares. New Agriculture’s objective is to manage these assets for market leading investment returns through sustainable agricultural production. For further information please visit www.newagriculture.com

About New Forests

New Forests is a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies, with A$11.7 billion in assets under management across more than 4.2 million hectares of investments (as at 30 June 2024). We manage a diversified portfolio of sustainable timber plantations and conservation areas, carbon and conservation finance projects, agriculture, timber processing and infrastructure. We aim to generate shared prosperity for our clients and the communities in which we operate and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

Headquartered in Sydney, New Forests is a Certified B Corp and operates in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Africa and the United States. www.newforests.com