As the globe’s population continues to grow consuming more and more resources, and available land decreases, farmers need to maximize their efficiency. From 2014 to 2018, the United States lost over 14 million acres of farmland. Precision Agriculture (PA) is a farm management concept based on observing, measuring, and responding to variability in crops, both inside a field (intra-field) and outside (inter-field). PA solutions often include specialized sensors, software, and cloud-based services. PA sensors in fields can measure parameters such as moisture content, air and soil temperature. Satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) can provide growers with real time multi-spectral imaging of their fields and even individual plants. This information can be processed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and machine learning to assist a farmer in making decisions, such as how much soil additives and irrigation to apply in order to increase profitability and sustainability.
Read moreFive Superfood Investment Trends for 2021
Nearly everyone has seen an advertisement for some sort of “superfood” that promises numerous health benefits packed into a single fruit or vegetable. Besides these claims, superfoods can make an attractive addition to an investment portfolio seeking diversified returns.
Read moreInvest in Agtech to Combat Food Inflation
As the agriculture industry evolves, so does the agriculture investment space. We’ve moved beyond simply investing into a crop and gaining returns from the yields. As equity crowdfunding in agriculture progresses, new investment opportunities arise. AgTech investments have exploded over the last half decade, with more exponential growth expected within the coming years.
Read moreInvesting in Hardy Hazelnuts
Tree crops have proven themselves as a sturdy investment option that can bring an investor returns for years to come. Though in more recent years, hazelnuts have held their ground as a tree crop that has increased in global demand, generates an appealing risk/return profile, and has rightfully earned its spot as the fifth largest nut crop in the world.
Read moreThe Thriving U.S. Lamb Industry
Lamb is a small component of the overall U.S. animal protein market, but one that is rapidly growing in importance. Approximately 300 million pounds of lamb are sold annually in the United States, with the majority of the product imported from Australia and New Zealand. In the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture, last conducted in 2017, there were 101,387 sheep operations (both wool and meat) in the U.S., an increase of 15% from five years prior.
Read moreAquaculture Investments: Making a Splash in 2021
The rising human population has unsurprisingly led to a boom in the demand for seafood. Consequently, the ocean is being rapidly depleted, not only reducing the seafood supply, but also negatively impacting ecological systems and reducing biodiversity. The rising need for animal protein, which is expected to increase by 52% by 2050, can only be met by farming fish. Aquaculture, which is the controlled breeding and harvesting of aquatic organisms, creates alternative sources of seafood for the growing population.
Read moreTop Five Agricultural Investments to Consider in 2021
With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are incredibly conscious of the origins of their food, including how, where, and by whom it is produced; perhaps more now than ever before. Consumers’ diets are changing, as they are unsurprisingly eating at home more due shelter-in orders and remote working as well as being more aware of what they are putting into their bodies. Similarly, public interest in climate change and other environmental issues, especially related to agriculture, has shown no decline. Based on these trends and discussions with our investors, we have developed the top five agricultural trends to watch for in 2021.
Read moreHow to Invest with KrogerFarms
So you’re thinking about investing in agriculture with KrogerFarms? Good choice -- investments in agriculture provide a hedge against inflation with little to no correlation to the overall stock market, and can be an attractive diversification tool for a portfolio. The universe of agriculture investment varies widely, with various crop types, growing methods, and offering structures, each with their own risk/return profile. Take a look at the simple steps below to get started. We are more than happy to aid you in your endeavors. But first, here’s a little bit about us.
Read moreTop 5 Mistakes Farmers Make When Raising Capital for Their Operation
The first question most farmers and producers who plan on starting a new operation or expanding their current one ask themselves is, “Where am I going to get the money?” For some of them, driving down to their local ag credit union will suffice. But others who may be thinking on a larger scale might consider raising capital with outside investors. For those, we offer a list of commonly seen mistakes.
Read moreMust Watch Farmland Investing Trends
When it comes to investing, one of the most valuable skills you can have is being able to identify trends and capitalize on them.
For example, those who caught the trend of online shopping and e-commerce have done quite well with stocks like Amazon. On the other hand, those who had their heads in the sand did not do too well if they owned retail stocks, such as Macy’s.
Farmland hasn’t quite become trendy yet, but it is growing in popularity. It has transitioned from an investment that was out of reach to something you can now own with relative ease. All without getting your boots dirty.
Before diving in, it is important to understand the current trends within an investment. Based on a report by Farm Foundation, here are the most important trends farmland investors need to be aware of.
Read moreThe ‘Cherry on Top’ for A Diversified Portfolio
Sweet, tangy and globally enjoyed, cherries have earned and proven their spot on consumers’ shopping lists, in our foods, and potentially, in your investment portfolio.
According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global fresh cherries market value is anticipated to reach $ 107.2 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 8.5%, making cherries an investable asset worthy of consideration.
Read moreMicroalgae - The Next Wave in Alternative Protein Investment
The alternative protein market has been a darling of investors the past few years, with most of the capital flowing into start-ups related to plant-based protein. However, a photosynthetic single cell cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green or microalgae, could drive the next wave of investments in alternative proteins.
Read more4 Reasons to Invest in Regenerative Agriculture
As agriculturalists and scientists seek solutions to the growing demand for sustainable agriculture products, many look to regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is a practice that involves enhancing the natural resource base and environment, while still producing sufficient amounts of high-quality food and being financially viable and safe for farmers and their communities. Regenerative cropping and farming practices aim to rebuild organic soil matter, resulting in a variety of environmental benefits, including improved soil biodiversity and reduced climate change. Regenerative agriculture also improves the sanitation of water and has proved to be a financially sound practice for farmers worldwide. The closed-loop system is thought to reduce humans’ impact on the environment and reverse damage.
Read moreHow Growing Health Trends Can Change the Landscape of Agriculture
Consumer demands have rapidly changed in the past few years – something that is most apparent in the food and agriculture industry.
Numerous factors have impacted the current shift in agricultural production, including boosted
efficiency and new regulations. However, a landmark study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis found that beyond these two
factors, changing consumption patterns will determine the future landscape of agriculture.
Today, consumers are willing to pay a premium for their health and the agricultural supply chain is heeding their call. As grocery
stores, fresh markets, and food companies change their approach to meet the demands of health-savvy consumers, so too will the farms that supply them.
Here are four growing health trends you should watch out for.
Protect Your Portfolio from Market Volatility with Agriculture
The Coronavirus scare has taken a toll on the stock market as of late. Much of the volatility in the market is driven by “program trading,” or machine-driven stock selling and buying. Markets these days are increasingly driven by algorithms, instead of human traders.
Thousand point daily swings may work to Wall Street traders’ advantage, but to the average American with retirement savings, they can be a cause for anxiety and concern. Because so much money is locked up in Exchange Traded Funds and index funds, this volatility is magnified for most investors. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX as its known, has spike tremendously in the past week.
Read moreAustralian Sheep Production for Global Consumption
The production of sheep for meat is widely distributed throughout the world. While China dominates the market in sheep consumption, they’re also the world’s largest importer. The global export market is very concentrated compared to production. Australia accounts for 8% of global sheep production, and acts as the world’s largest exporter with 34% of the market, according to the World Sheep Market to 2025 report.
Read more3 Reasons Why Women Could Make Great Agriculture Investors
There seems to be a lack of talk about women in investing roles. It is easy to find articles about how to become the next Warren Buffett or Peter Lynch, but what about being the next Geraldine Weiss or Barbara Corcoran? On another note, there's also a lack of talk about women farmers and ranchers. 30% of U.S. farmers are women, yet the face of farming is typically that of a man. Now is the time for these two industries to pair together to build powerhouse investors and agriculturalists. Here are 3 reasons why women could make great agriculture investors:
Read moreTop 5 Agriculture Investments to Watch in 2020
We expect 2020 to be another exciting and dynamic year for investments in production agriculture. One of the ways to understand momentum behind agriculture investment is to examine consumer food preferences. According to Nielson’s recent “How America Will Eat” report, sales growth during the last year for fresh foods has increased $4.6 billion, organics is up more than $925 million, and plant-based foods has grown to $982 million. Social and health conscious younger generations are increasingly concerned with all aspects of the food they eat to include how, where, and by whom it is grown. Based on these developments, we’ve developed the top five investment trends to watch in 2020.
Read moreQuitting Beef to Save the Climate? Unnecessary.
We’ve seen a large number of inaccurate and sensational headlines on the sustainability of cattle production. Many people are trying plant-based diets simply because they believe that eating meat is bad for the environment. Diana Rodgers of Sustainable Dish provided the infographic below with a great explanation of cattle carbon cycling vs. fossil fuels that dispels these myths.
Read moreLavender: Low Maintenance, High Returns
In correlation with consumer demand for natural ingredients, lavender is a high value, low maintenance plant with a great return on investment. There are many uses for this perennial crop, making lavender easy to sell. The only problem with today’s lavender market — demand is outpacing supply.
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