Selwyn_Times: September 21, 2022
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SELWYN RURAL LIFE<br />
Wednesday <strong>September</strong> <strong>21</strong> <strong>2022</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 41<br />
Arable Investment Fund underway<br />
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is<br />
working to set up a specialist fund to invest in<br />
companies developing new tools and technologies that<br />
deliver benefit to New Zealand arable growers.<br />
In May this year, the FAR Board received approval<br />
from its Members’ Council to use a portion of the<br />
FAR reserves to set up a specialist investment fund to<br />
invest in companies that will develop new tools and<br />
technologies that deliver benefit to NZ arable growers.<br />
FAR, based at Templeton, said the driver for this<br />
initiative was its goal to support growers to increase<br />
the profitability and competitiveness of their farm<br />
businesses through a range of value-add ventures.<br />
Chief Executive Alison Stewart said the investment<br />
fund would not compromise FAR’s business as usual<br />
research, development and extension activities<br />
and would be managed as a separate entity with an<br />
independent fund manager.<br />
The fund mandate and investment criteria would be<br />
focused on agri-tech and agri-food investments that<br />
specifically delivered benefit to NZ arable growers<br />
such as plant-based protein crops, robotics and<br />
automation, fertilizer management and irrigation<br />
technology. The fund would operate under robust<br />
governance and investment procedures in order to<br />
provide acceptable returns to all investment partners,<br />
Stewart said.<br />
The concept had been in development for over<br />
12 months with input from external business and<br />
investment fund experts. Northington Partners<br />
was appointed as the fund manager in August and<br />
Northington were now developing investment<br />
collateral with the aim of launching the capital raise<br />
for the new fund in the second half of this month.<br />
All FAR levy payers would be given the opportunity<br />
to consider and invest in the fund. More details of<br />
progress towards fund launch (planned for early 2023)<br />
and investment opportunities would be provided in<br />
future FAR communications, Stewart said.<br />
Meantime, a survey run by Research First has found<br />
about 43% of New Zealanders think arable farmers<br />
here are better or significantly better than the global<br />
average at using sustainable farming practices, while<br />
46% think we’re about the same.<br />
The survey defined sustainable farming as focusing<br />
on responsible and thoughtful management of natural<br />
resources. Among other things, involving reducing<br />
carbon emissions, minimising water, air, and soil<br />
pollution, promoting biodiversity, and managing<br />
water carefully. It then asked participants whether they<br />
thought specific farm types in New Zealand are better<br />
or worse than the global average in terms of use of<br />
sustainable practices.<br />
Focus Day<br />
Wednesday 28 <strong>September</strong> <strong>2022</strong> | 10.15am to 1.00pm<br />
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Contact<br />
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BOB HOWDEN Ph: 027 331 5324<br />
E: bobhowden@hotmail.com<br />
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