Alternative Investments

Global Agriculture Forum

September 28, 2017 | 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

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Global Agriculture Forum

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Fee: Members $25 | Nonmembers $65
LiveStream: Free & Available to Members Only

5:30 Check-in


6:00 Opening remarks

Kevin Maxwell, CFA, Managing Director, Institutional Advisory Services, Nuveen


6:10 Keynote address

Bruce Sherrick, Ph.D., Professor, University of Illinois


7:00 Panel discussion

Martin Davies, President, Westchester Agriculture Asset Management
Kevin Rivchun, Vice President, The Townsend Group
Paul Pittman, CEO & Founder, Farmland Partners

Moderated by: Justin Ourso, CFA, Managing Director, Head of Ag. & Timber, Nuveen


7:55 Closing Remarks

Steven Bloom, CFA


8:00 Networking reception

Location

CFA Society New York Conference Center 1540 Broadway #1010 New York, NY 10036

Host

Alternative Investments Group

Organizers

Speakers

Bruce Sherrick, Ph.D., Professor, University of Illinois
Martin Davies, President, Westchester Agriculture Asset Management
Justin “Biff” Ourso, CFA, Managing Director, Head of Ag. & Timber, Nuveen
Kevin Rivchun, Vice President, The Townsend Group
Paul Pittman, CEO & Founder, Farmland Partners

Overview

Agriculture, one of the oldest and most important industries on Earth, has only recently become a sought-after addition to institutional portfolios. Attracted by consistent yields, long-term appreciation, inflation-hedging characteristics, and low correlation to other asset classes, institutional investors represent a growing portion of fragmented farmland ownership universe. The trend is likely to continue until agriculture becomes a staple of every portfolio. The long-term drivers are evident: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates the global population will reach 9.7 Billion by 2050, requiring overall food production to increase by 70% during this period. In addition, rising incomes in emerging and developing economies provides another boost in food production demand. Concerns about water scarcity and security continue to focus attention on agricultural land use worldwide. Advanced scrutiny of water consumption encourages regions, states, and countries lacking ample water to conserve the resource by importing rather than producing grain, fruit, cotton, and meat, each of which requires a substantial amount of water use. Responding to the virtual water trade will cause regions that experience drought and desert conditions to reduce production of water-thirsty agricultural products. The event will kick-off with a review of U.S. land investment performance. The panel will discuss strategies, challenges and their outlook for the future of this $5 trillion-dollar industry. For example: how should one view the most basic of needs from an investment perspective; how can investors participate in the long-term trend; has the asset been repriced before investors have even had a chance to investigate the opportunity? Likewise, how does weather, advanced production techniques, and the shift from lower-value to higher-value commodities affect industry dynamics?

Features, Benefits, Values

Learn whether it makes sense to include agricultural investments in your portfolio and how to go about gaining exposure.

Major Points

  • How does agriculture perform as an investment?
  • Are the long-term drivers sustainable? Have they been priced in?
  • How does one gain exposure to a mostly illiquid asset class?
  • How does the outlook for land holdings, leased operations, crops, storage, and delivery vary?

Who Should Attend?

CIO, portfolio manager, analyst, economist, strategist, private wealth adviser, family office manager, private equity professional

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