UBS Global Asset Management has introduced an Australian and New Zealand farmland investment advisory capability.
The investment will be worth $1 billion over five years, and will concentrate on sectors like sheep, meat, beef and grain, with the support of local and international capital.
The firm has teamed up with farmland operational advisor Bydand Global Agriculture, which will provide farmland operational management advice to UBS.
Institutional investors can get either directly-owned and operated farmland, or directly-owned farmland operated by Australian farmers.
The capability will offer direct farmland ownership and exposure to operational outcomes through individual mandates.
Head of global real estate for APAC Trevor Cooke said with Australia seeing growing demand for traceable food, especially from Asia, this farmland investment capability will look to get equity capital to expand agricultural sectors in Australia.
The capability will be managed from Sydney and Hong Kong by a farmland team.
Infrastructure well-positioned to hedge against global uncertainty, says investment chief.
The fund manager remains positive on the outlook for gold and believes ongoing market volatility will provide opportunities to acquire small-cap stocks in promising sectors.
T. Rowe Price Group VP said investment strategies must adapt to an ageing population, as Australians outlive their retirement savings.
The international asset manager expects AI will reach a point in the near future where it can autonomously manage investments within certain parameters set by fund managers.