Australian Government & Canadian Investment Company Team Up to Buy Aussie Farmland

A $200 million farmland deal has brought together a partnership between the Australian government and a Canadian investment company. Together the partnership, named Wilga Farming, will buy farmland and use it to show that livestock and cropping can remain a profitable industry in a decarbonised economy. 

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation, owned by the Australian government and touted as a “green bank” will invest $50 million, while CDPQ will contribute a further $150 million. The Wilga Farming portfolio will be managed by Gunn Agri Partners, Australian-based agricultural managers who already oversee the management of approximately $750 million in assets. 

Its first purchase, The Glen, is located in NSW Northern Tablelands. With 1200 hectares now available, Wilga Farming will now subject the property to a number of sustainable farming practices including reducing synthetic fertiliser use, rotational grazing, soil carbon management and improving irrigation.

AGFORM RESPONSE

With the current state of the agriculture industry thanks to the Federal government, all the issues we’re facing, do we really need the federal government to be buying up farmland?