August 29, 2024

By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media

Sunshine Coast, Queensland-based Inform Ag, which is in the business of future-proofing farming, has raised A$7 million (US$4.7 million) in a funding round spearheaded by Rural Funds Group, an ASX-listed agriculture REIT and strategic corporate investor. Inform Ag, whose products help farmers and agribusinesses make data-driven decisions, improve efficiency and enhance sustainability, said it plans to direct the proceeds toward accelerating growth, further innovations and new offerings for the ag community. The financing comes on the heels of a financial year in which Inform Ag achieved 300 percent revenue growth.

Inform Ag CEO Steve Lockyer stated, “We are incredibly excited about this new chapter in Inform Ag’s journey. The investment from Rural Funds Group not only validates our vision and the work we’ve been doing but also provides the resources needed to scale our operations and bring innovative new products to market more rapidly.”

Inform Ag has also added to members to its board of directors – David Bryant and Stuart Kilduff – who will provide valuable insight for expanding the company’s footprint into emerging markets.

David Bryant, managing director at Rural Funds Management, the responsible entity and trustee of Rural Funds Group, said, “RFM has been a customer of Inform Ag for two years as it develops 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of macadamia orchards in Queensland. We’re pleased to make this financial investment which will be used to support Inform Ag’s growth, as well as working alongside their team for further product development.”

Queensland Macadamia Orchards

Rural Funds generates capital growth and income from developing and leasing ag assets. A bright spot in its financial year 2024 results was the continued development of the macadamia orchards referenced by Bryant and that Rural Funds leases to the The Rohatyn Group (TRG). According to Bryant, the deployment of capital into these orchards has improved a number of portfolio metrics including the diversification of revenue and institutional corporate lessees.

Rural Funds says the macadamia developments started two years ago are on track for completion by year-end 2024 in the face of delays from above-average rainfall. The company has made precision-focused developments that it says are likely to generate high yields and a low cost of production for TRG.

The orchards will comprise an estimated 7 percent of Australia’s total planted macadamia area across over a dozen properties in a trio of locations: Maryborough, which includes 10 properties across 1,486 hectares (3,671 acres); Bundaberg, including two properties across 78 hectares (193 acres); and Rockhampton, including two properties across 1,440 hectares (3,558 acres). To bring it full circle, Rural Funds is harnessing Inform Ag’s macadamia orchard technology and infrastructure to bolster yields and for greater operational efficiency, including environmental, tree and soil data collection as well as remotely controlled irrigation.

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