April 17, 2018

The current managing directors of Global AgInvesting are Kate Westfall and Jared Rose. GAI Gazette asked them to weigh in on the journey of GAI:

At this 10th anniversary of Global AgInvesting, what are your reflections on the history and success of the event? What does the future hold for GAI?

JR: Global AgInvesting, since its inception in 2009, has been committed to educating the institutional investing and private wealth management communities on the compelling nature of agriculture investments, while providing opportunity for immersion into the marketplace. It has been an honor for all of us at Global AgInvesting to have spent the last decade breathing life into a nascent asset class. The Global AgInvesting platform has always been and continues to be essential for giving voice and shape to an evolutionary asset class. What has emerged is a potent critical catalyst for accelerating growth in the space.

Asset classes such as real estate, timber, hedge funds and others that are commonly found today inside institutional portfolios did not feature at all 20, 30, or 40 years ago. Agriculture as an asset class is on a similar path as these other asset classes, to become an established component of sophisticated institutional investors’ asset allocations. Despite the tremendous progress that has been made and the strength of future opportunity, agriculture today remains notably underinvested by institutional investors. Those investing in agriculture today are still pioneers. At some point in the coming years, the institutional herd effect will settle in and a bumper crop of new investors will be on the scene. We are not there yet and it might take many years, but this will happen. Agriculture as an asset class will emerge from adolescence to maturity. This is the future for Global AgInvesting – to fulfill that promise.

KW: The fact that we have played a significant role in advancing an asset class that I am personally so committed to makes the work incredibly rewarding. The community that we are building and the network of investors who recognize the opportunity feels much more convivial than typical investment conferences. This is a sentiment that I have heard over and over from many of our long-time attendees, and I see that as a real value-add along with the consistently critical content and meaningful networking opportunities. I also echo Jared’s comments about this being the very beginning. All of the champions of the sector who have been with us since 2009 have collectively built a strong foundation on which to build the future, solidifying agriculture as a legitimate asset class.

Moving forward, we are seeing a resurgence in appetite for sustainability and traceability. Impact investments are taking the spotlight more and more, and this sector is poised to benefit. Something inherent in the human connection to and need for food and agriculture offers the feeling of “doing good while doing well” when responsibly investing in the space. An increasing number of sector-focused asset managers will no doubt take on the mantle and deliver opportunities with triple bottom line appeal.

Another area that I am really passionate about is the agtech space. My ag investment career began with agtech back when GAI was first getting off the ground. I was one of the producers of the very first agtech investment conference, Agriculture 2.0, and I am so excited to continue that work under the GAI umbrella. With our AgTech Nexus series in Boston and Dublin this year, I look forward to bringing all of the successful elements of GAI events and tailoring them to the agtech and venture capital communities.

I am really proud of the events that we have produced so far, and look forward to trying to top the experience every time in every market. Here’s to 10 more!

What are the top three presentations attendees shouldn’t miss here in New York City at the 10th anniversary of Global AgInvesting?

 JR:

• Jeff Conrad’s Perspectives from a pioneer Keynote Interview
• The 10 Year Retrospective on an Evolutionary Asset Class panel
• The Farmland Investment Performance Measurement panel

KW:

• AgTech Decade in Review: Success Stories from Start-Ups with Staying Power
• Assessing Agriculture as an Impact Investment
• Pension Perspectives on Farmland Investing