Over the past few years, we’ve tracked the success of Farmland LP, a family of funds created to increase the economic yield of farmland through sustainable farming practices.
Their approach is notable in a number of ways. It seeks to improves the quality of the underlying land. To avoid use of fossil inputs. To increase the yield per acre. To enable the production of vegetables, grains, and meats on acreage that before was monocrop. To employ more farmers per farm. To be more profitable than conventional farming. To improve the food resiliency of the local community. To reduce its dependency on liquid fuel transport by serving local markets. To generate annual returns for its shareholders, plus appreciation on their share of the underlying farmland.
The team believes there is an arbitrage in value that can be unlocked by reversing the damage modern farming has done to the land. For a detailed write up of how exactly they’re pursuing this, read my first-hand account while visiting their largest farming parcel in California.
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And for those of you who are visually-minded, here’s a selection of photos taken this year from across the funds’ properties:
http://www.photosnack.com/FLPholiday/bestof2016farmphotos.html
Chris recently mentioned our renewed commitment here on the site to focus more on highlighting examples of better models for the future. So in that spirit, in this week’s podcast, I check in with the founders of Farmland LP for an update on how the team has progressed on its mission in 2016. For the first time, we have Craig Wichner (“the numbers guy”) joined by Jason Bradford (“the farming guy”), who provides much more detail than we’ve had in the past into the sustainable land-management practices Farmland LP employs to put the land to its best use.
Those who would like to learn more about Farmland’s operations and/or its investment funds can send a request for more information here. Note that their REIT is available to accredited investors only and that Peak Prosperity has an existing business relationship with Farmland LP (full details will be provided when opening an account with the Fund or at any time upon request.)
Click the play button below to listen to my interview with Craig and Jason at Farmland LP (60m:54s).
