New Agriculture, a division of Sydney-based New Forests Asset Management, has unveiled a dedicated landscapes strategy for institutional investors which will focus on agriculture assets in Australia and New Zealand. The strategy will invest 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. “Our approach has always focused 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,” said David Shelton, Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at New Forests, which specialises in nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies. 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. “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,” said Bruce King, Director of Agriculture at New Agriculture.
