March 4, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Specialist Investment advisory firm Cibus Capital announced the successful close of Cibus Fund II (CF II) – its second mid-market private equity fund – with over US$510 million in capital commitments, and Cibus Enterprise Fund II (CE II) – its second venture fund – with more than $135 million in commitments. 

Advised by London-based Cibus Capital, which has raised over US$1 billion to invest across its strategies to-date, the Cibus funds’ strategy specializes in making sustainable food and agriculture investments in mid-sized companies that are leading the future of food through innovation, disruption, increased resource efficiency, and sustainability.

“Farmers and landowners have taken  center stage in the debate about food security and environmental conservation,” said Rob Appleby, founder and CIO, Cibus Capital. “This coincides with a clearer view of the risks and opportunities faced by investors and stakeholders alike in food production.”

“We thank our original supporters and those looking at Cibus for the first time, for the support they  have provided us as we direct capital to those companies contributing to carbon reduction, increasing  biodiversity and making compelling financial returns.” 

Investors who participated in this fundarise include an impressive roster of high-profile names including  Los Angeles County Employee Retirement Association (LACERA) and Retail Employees Superannuation Trust (Rest) – one of the largest profit-to-member superannuation funds in Australia – which only a matter of weeks ago, announced its first alternative impact investment in CF II. 

“As a super fund representing one in five young Australians, we believe impact investing represents a powerful opportunity for us to grow our members’ super, while helping to build a more sustainable future,” said Leilani Weier, head of responsible investment and sustainability with Rest, earlier this month. 

“The allocation provides exposure to initiatives at the forefront of modern agriculture and opportunities that address the growing need for environmental plantings and natural assets.”

This commitment also represents its first impact investment within its alternative asset class, and brings it one step closer to one of its key targets. 

“Rest expects our investment in Cibus Fund II to deliver long-term value for our members while growing our exposure to companies at the forefront of sustainable agriculture practices. It also brings  us closer to our target of achieving a one percent allocation to impact investments across our total  portfolio by 2026.”

The mission of CE II is to make late-stage venture investments in innovative companies developing technologies with the potential to disrupt food production or processing and to increase resource efficiency and sustainability along the way.

The fund has already made 10 investments across robotics, precision chemistry for crop protection, and natural capital. 

“Agri-Food Technology provides the  potential for unprecedented positive change across resource efficiency, GHG emissions, biodiversity,  food security, human health and animal welfare,” said Alastair Cooper, head of venture, Cibus Capital. “We are excited about the possibilities to come, deploying capital to innovative companies supporting the technological revolution much needed in  our food system.” 

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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