UBS said the capability has been developed to meet strong institutional investor demand for Australian and New Zealand farmland and will offer direct farmland ownership and exposure to operational outcomes through individual mandates.
The asset manager said the capability will provide a “full-service, farmland investment advisory offering that includes investment and operational expertise supported by UBS Global Asset Management's research and governance processes”.
The strategies will offer institutional investors either directly-owned and operated farmland or directly-owned farmland operated by leading Australian farmers, according to UBS.
UBS Global Asset Management head of global real estate for APAC Trevor Cooke said Australia is an “important supplier of high-quality, traceable food to key export markets, in particular Asia, with growing demand for such products and increasing consumer ability to purchase”.
“Our farmland investment capability will look to attract much needed equity capital to support growth and expansion of the agricultural sectors across Australia to meet this increasing demand,” said Mr Cooke.
UBS said the capability will be supported by Bydand Global Agriculture, a specialist farmland operational adviser, who will provide specific farmland operational management advice to UBS and its clients.
