Agriculture
Investment Approach
Our Agriculture Strategy is dedicated to building a diversified global portfolio of assets, primarily farmland, generating stable, attractive returns over the long-term for investors. We invest in agricultural land and rural producing assets primarily in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, focusing on high-quality farmland with a history of production and resilience through economic and commodity cycles. We seek to create unique, long-lasting partnerships with best-in-class local operators and invest primarily in the sectors of row crops, animal protein (dairy, beef, sheep), permanent crops and related rural sectors.
Team Track Record
Our highly experienced agriculture team has previously acquired close to 5 million acres of land globally while generating a leading track record of returns. The founding team has worked together for more than 10 years, including at one of Canada’s largest pension plans, where they founded and led the Natural Resources group, which at the time of their departure was one of the largest investors in the sector globally.
The team has developed a robust due diligence process, large deal pipeline, and extensive global network of reputable operators. Fiera Comox has a deep understanding of an assets’ positioning on the global cost curve and the implications on risk and volatility. Its diversified sector and geographic expertise allows the team to best allocate capital to different agricultural sectors and regions to target superior risk-adjusted returns in various market environment.
Key principles
- High-quality, land-centric farming assets, providing a core risk exposure to the asset class. Selection of assets with a production history in markets with strong supply and demand fundamentals that are well positioned to generate cash yield and capital appreciation
- Own-and-operate model with value add opportunities, providing access to cash yield, capital appreciations and alpha through active roll-up strategy and land improvement initiatives
- Partnership approach which aligns interests and attracts the best operating partners in the world, thus increasing the depth of operating expertise while expanding deal sourcing and growth capabilities through the development of investment platforms. Entrepreneurial model promoting global sharing of best agricultural practices, combining operational and private equity diligence and discipline.
- Geographical and sectoral diversification allows the diversification of idiosyncratic risk and to allocate capital toward globally competitive assets that have historically been best positioned to deliver strong returns across commodity cycles
- Strong ESG considerations by promoting a ESG-driven culture across our platforms and investment screening and underwriting process
High-Quality, Land-Based
Farming Assets
Own-and-Operate Model
Global and Sectoral
Diversification
Strong ESG considerations
Portfolio Footprint
Since inception, Fiera Comox’s Global Agriculture Fund has invested in 7 investment platforms across 3 targeted countries and 4 sub-sectors. This provides current and prospective investors with a balanced exposure to the asset class and diversification benefits, with an exposure to over 200,000 acres of farmland producing over 13 different agricultural commodities in 9 climate regions. Fiera Comox is continually evaluating new investment opportunities to complement its current portfolio.
Apples and Cherries
- Location
- Washington
- Sector
- Permanent Crops (Apples and Cherries)
- Footprint
- 2,800 producing acres
- Partnership with one of the most reputable tree fruit growers in the world
- Vertically integrated producer of high-quality apples and cherries serving domestic and export markets
- Sophisticated orchard operation with modern, high-density, trellis technologies
- Traditional and premium varieties


Almonds
- Location
- US (California)
- Sector
- Permanent Crops (Almonds)
- Footprint
- 4,000 contiguous acres
- One of the world’s largest contiguous almond orchards
- Located in Northern Central Valley of California
- Management team has an in-depth almond development and management expertise acquired over the last 20 years


Cotton and Grains
- Location
- Australia (Queensland)
- Sector
- Row Crops (Cotton and Grains)
- Footprint
- 90,000 acres, 30,000 irrigated acres
- Institutional-grade agricultural enterprise producing cotton and grains in Queensland, Australia
- Two farming properties, with cotton primarily irrigated through bankless channels
- Management has an extensive background in broadacre farming and land development work


Maple Syrup
- Location
- US (Vermont)
- Sector
- Related Rural (Maple Syrup)
- Footprint
- 18,000 acres of forestland
- Largest single producer of organic maple syrup in the world based in Vermont
- Sub-regionally diversified network of close to 500,000 taps across 18,000 acres of land
- Vertically integrated operations from the trees to the stores through private label programs and branded products


Grains, Oil Seeds, Pulses
- Location
- Australia (Victoria)
- Sector
- Row Crops (Grains, Oil Seeds, Pulses), Animal Protein (Sheep)
- Footprint
- 100,800 arable acres in two farming districts


Dairy Farming
- Location
- New Zealand (Canterbury and Otago)
- Sector
- Animal Protein (Dairy Farming)
- Footprint
- 12,000 irrigated acres
- Leading low-cost, highly efficient New Zealand dairy farming operation
- Largely contiguous portfolio of 12 irrigated dairy properties with a herd of 17,000 dairy cattle
- Partnership with one of the most experienced and reputable management teams in the dairy industry


Cherries, Cherry Plums, Golden Kiwis
- Location
- California
- Sector
- Permanent Crops (Cherries, Cherry Plums, Golden Kiwis)
- Footprint
- 1,700 acres
- Partnerships with one of the most sophisticated cherry growers in the world
- Vertically integrated fruit producer with exposure to wide variety of markets and fruits
- One of the largest cherry producers in the state and the largest producer of Cherry Plums and Golden Kiwis in the US
- Modern orchard infrastructure and diversified water rights portfolio


- 9 climate
regions - 200,000 acres of
farmland - 13 different
agricultural commodities