Food investment driven by tech and innovation

Global food demand will grow by over 10 per cent each decade over the next 30 years, according to First State Super.

Food supply investing will need to focus on production, utilisation, and wastage, according to First State Super.

The fund said global food demand would grow by over 10 per cent each decade over the next 30 years and that innovation was the most important developments driven by investment in technology.

The fund’s chief investment officer, Damian Graham, said innovations included clean meats through plant protein-cased meat substitutes, just-in-time food delivery, and super glass houses.

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“Through our investments in food and agriculture, we are seeking to continue to optimise the efficiency of production around energy, water and other inputs to help meet increased global demand in a more sustainable way; while continuing to meet our obligation to provide our members with the best possible investment returns,” he said.

Graham said while to date much of the focus on food investments had been based on the growth of the Asian middle class, it needed to be complemented by the long-term supply-side considerations such as environmental impact and sustainability.

Currently, First State Super has $1 billion invested in the agriculture sector such as the sale and leaseback of land for almond production along the Murray River and the ownership of facilities to support poultry production on a rent by area basis.