We've Moved

The AgReturn Team will now be blogging at our new blog, www.InAlternatives.com which offers insights and ideas on alternative investments from IIR's Finance Division.

Please look for our updates at Inalternatives.

What We Learned from World Water Day (WWD) 2012

Last week, on March 22nd, the world celebrated World Water Day, which was initially launched in 1993. This year the focus was on Water and Food Security: The World is Thirsty Because We are Hungry, the 2012 campaign was the biggest ever of its history.

Below we've rounded up a list of interesting WWD articles and facts to help guide your WaterReturns and water driven investment strategies:

Harnessing the bacteria naturally occurring in water and using solar energy are just two innovations that may help bring clean drinking water to the world's poor. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with water scarcity, the UN estimates.

WRI partnered with several businesses to develop new tools and resources to collect global water data. WRI’s Aqueduct project aims to meet the growing demand for information about present water supply and future risks. Launched last fall, with support from GE, Goldman Sachs, and others, Aqueduct collects, combines, and maps comprehensive data on water and related risks for businesses and investors.

Calculate your own water footprint.

Try the NatGeo interactive map on the water footprint of U.S. consumption.

Meet Australian farmer Laurie Arthur farms 10,000 acres, using the same amount of water as a city of 40,000 to produce food for 100,000.

“The emerging market is taking off right now,” said Steven Falci, head of strategy development for sustainable investment at Kleinwort Benson Investors, an Irish investment firm that has been in the water market for more than a decade. 

Infographics and Maps:

Populations without Access to Sanitation Coverage

Populations without Access to Drinking Water

Water footprint of twelve selected commodities

Water footprint per inhabitant for 132 nations

Infographic Video: How To Solve The World’s Water Crisis

Last Opportunity to Register: AgReturn San Francisco March 13-15, 2012

This is your last chance to register for next week’s groundbreaking Agriculture and Water Investment Conference, AgReturn San Francisco, March 13-15th.

Secure your place now to ensure you don’t miss out on discussions surrounding the opportunities in agriculture assets, agribusiness equities, farmland plays and primary production innovation.

Seasoned veterans such as John Denniston of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Oliver Flake of the USDA, Angelos Dassios of Paine + Partners, Robert Anfuso of Summit Global Management, Jacqueline Herd of Monsanto, Andrew Ziolkowski of Cultivian Ventures and Michael Lassner of DuPont Agriculture Biotechnology will discuss tactics for navigating the shifting agriculture landscape.

Agenda highlights include novel panel discussions on water rights and conservation technology, private equity and venture strategies, diversifying ag portfolios, and opportunities in public verse private markets.

Don’t miss your chance partake in this innovative and thought provoking event! 

Register now for three days of unrivaled networking, intensive education, and concrete investment opportunities in agriculture and water.

We'll see you there!

To register for the conference, visit www.AgReturnSanFran.com. Attendees can register for all three days at one low price or make the choice to attend the Agriculture 2.0 Symposium or Main Conference only.

Global Agribusiness: How to Stir a Sleeping Giant

Law Firm’s Global Agri-Biz Practice Head Connects ALL the Dots in AgWire Interview

By Marc Dresner, IIR

Joshua Hofheimer, an attorney with Sidley Austin LLP and coordinator of the firm’s global agribusiness practice, isn’t the first to refer to the sector as a sleeping giant.

But he is among an exclusive handful of experts capable of connecting the dots—and the players—necessary to stir global agribusiness from its slumber.

Couple population growth and resource scarcity—they’re not making any more land or water—with undervalued assets, under-production and runaway technological innovation and you have a compelling investment equation.

So why hasn’t the global agribusiness market rocketed off? Well, the math isn’t as simple as it seems.

Hofheimer noted CropLife estimates time-to-market—from discovery to commercialization—of a biotech trait is about 13 years, the cost has risen to approximately $130 million per trait and the regulatory timeframe has doubled to roughly four years.

In addition, there’s a coverage deficiency that’s impeding the flow of venture capital to where it’s needed.

Joshua Hofheimer

“We are still fragmented when you start to look at the inflection points or the intersection between technology and what some people call clean tech and how that influences or overlaps with agriculture in certain areas and the life sciences,” said Hofheimer. “When you start to integrate those different segments into a business or into a business model, the research coverage breaks down because it becomes fragmented.”

Ah, but therein lies the opportunity. Hofheimer and his colleagues aren’t waiting for analysts to catch up; they’re matchmaking.

“When you bring together activists’ interests, entrepreneurial spirit, technology and commercial enterprise, that’s when you will see more and more exciting companies with new ideas that are going to have a really big and innovative impact in this market, and also have a beneficial impact on our environment,” Hofheimer told AgWire.

“I just want to be a part of it by helping to bring companies together and ideas together… We have a great platform for helping those companies to develop and mature, and for those bigger companies to compete on a global scale, and to help investors find and structure some really interesting opportunities,” he added.

In this episode of AgWire, Hofheimer provides a comprehensive overview of the global agribusiness frontier, including:


• Development and commercialization processes
• Global regulatory strategy
• Technological advancement and innovation
• Partnering opportunities and more…

Listen to this episode of AgWire: Part I & Part II


Download an interview transcript.

Editor’s note:Hear more from Josh Hofheimer in person. He’s chairing AgReturn San Francisco March 13-15. For more information or to register, click here.

ABOUT AGWIRE
AgWire is an executive interview series featuring the business leaders, investment experts, innovators and entrepreneurs at the forefront of the agriculture industry. Each episode explores the trends, technologies and drivers shaping the world of agriculture today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/INTERVIEWER
Marc Dresner is IIR's sr. editor and special communication project lead. He is the former executive editor of Research Business Report, a confidential newsletter for the market research industry. He may be reached at mdresner@iirusa.com. Follow him @mdrezz.

Why Attend AgReturn San Francisco 2012?

° Diversify your portfolio
° Hedge against inflation
° Gain access to exclusive content for innovators and investors
° Expand your network
° Explore opportunities in water rights and technology
° Strengthen your knowledge of need-to-know investment themes

AgReturn San Francisco 2012 is a unique kind of agriculture investment conference--one that embraces the surrounding themes of agriculture, real assets, and scarcity-driven investments.

This event delivers comprehensive strategy discussions on everything from public equities to innovations in precision technology, to mature markets farmland plays, water rights and efficiency.

Building upon the past attendance of over 250 investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, attendees this year includes foreign and institutional investors.

To see a sample of companies who have attended in the past, click here.
To see full program details, click here to download the brochure.

Weaving together investment themes of global farmland and commodities as well as agribusiness equities, and innovations in conservation technology, this invigorating forum is a must-attend event.

Who Attends AgReturn events?

√ Private equity, hedge fund, and commodities investors  
√ Impact investors
√ Pension funds, endowments, foundations  
√ Food and agriculture corporate leaders
√ Venture capitalists  
√ Food and agriculture
√ Family offices, high net-worth individuals, angel investors  
√ Agribusiness industry professionals
 √ Service providers to all of the above
 

For further agenda details, information about our speaker forum and to register click here.

AgReturn San Francisco: Register by this Friday and save up to $200

We wanted to let you know that an updated brochure is now available online for AgReturn San Francisco. Be sure to check out our brand new sessions and prestigious speaker additions. To see the most up to date agenda, please download the latest brochure here.

AgReturn San Francisco is a unique agriculture investment conference--one that embraces the surrounding themes of agriculture, real assets, and scarcity-driven investments. Join us, March 13th-15th, for three full days of senior level discussion focused on agriculture investment opportunities in mature markets and how best to take advantage of this rapidly growing sector.  

Register by this Friday, February 17th to save $200! 

The conference will weave together investment themes of global farmland and commodities as well as agribusiness and agrifood equities, water, and innovations in conservation technology.

AgReturn San Francisco presents sophisticated discussions on:

• investment strategies to combat global shortages in water and food
• investment strategies for water rights and disruptive water technologies
• valuation methods for vetting agtech and agribusiness
• aquaculture trends and prospects
• pending policy and industry themes that will affect your business
• vertical investment strategies throughout the agriculture supply chain
• farmland plays in mature markets
• debt financing and debt facility tactics

This is a one-stop commercial marketplace for the industry.

Make sure AgReturn San Francisco is on your calendar for 2012. For further event details, click here.

Unique Opportunities for PE Investors at AgReturn San Francisco 2012

AgReturn San Francisco 2012 is a unique kind of agriculture investment conference--one that embraces the surrounding themes of agriculture, real assets, and scarcity-driven investments.

This year we are pleased to offer new content and networking sessions created specifically for Private Equity investors interested in the Agriculture Space at AgReturn San Francisco 2012!

Afternoon tracks are fully dedicated to Private Equity strategies, best practices and risk management.

Don’t miss: The following panels:

√ “Do Your Homework": – 2:00 pm, March 13th 
Review best practices for evaluating agtech and agribusinesses to avoid failure and strategies for successful exits.

√ “The Role of Private Equity in Global Agribusiness”- 4:15 March 13th 
How is private equity currently engaging with the global agribusiness regarding relationship management, deal identification, deal terms, valuation methods, best practices and exit strategies? Find out here.

Be there: Private Equity B2B Networking:

Take the time to meet your peers in this first-ever private equity mixer at AgReturn. Learn about successes and failures, take away strategy ideas, and most importantly, discover potential deals. Private Equity firms can sign up for this unique networking session on a first-come, first-served basis on-site.

Hear from: The following pioneering investors:

Angelos Dassios, Partner, Paine + Partners 
Bruce Kahn, Director, Deutsche Bank 
Brad Triebsch, Principal, Central Valley Fund 
Stuart Rudick, Partner, Mindful Investors 
Aaron Enz, Partner, Watershed Capital

To see the full agenda and speaker faculty, please download the brochure here.

This is a one-stop commercial marketplace for the industry. Make sure AgReturn San Francisco is on your calendar for 2012.

We look forward to seeing you in March!

Sponsor 
Get involved in AgReturn. Make your presence known by building your customized sponsorship package today. For more information please contact Terri Sobol at +1 646-895-7473 or tsobol@iirusa.com

Venture Capital Investors at AgReturn San Francisco 2012

AgReturn San Francisco 2012 is a unique kind of agriculture investment conference--one that embraces the surrounding themes of agriculture, real assets, and scarcity-driven investments. Discover a myriad of opportunities along the liquidity spectrum, including mature markets farmland, agribusiness equities, and primary production innovations at this event in March.

This year we are pleased to offer new content and networking sessions created specifically for Venture Capital investors!

Afternoon tracks fully dedicated to Venture Capital investment strategies, best practices and risk management.

Don’t miss: The following panels:

√ “Case Studies: Chart the Successful Exit of a Venture Backed Sustainable Agriculture 
Technology": – 2:00 pm, March 13th
Learn from a successful innovator who embraced the sector and found success. Deal: enix Acquisition.

√ “What’s Next? Presenting the New Class of Agriculture Technologies”- 3:15 March 13th 
An active venture investor moderates a panel of entrepreneurs who will discuss navigating the US farm system, securing financing, working with farmers, patent process and more. Learn how emerging agtech is being adapted and integrated into the industry right now.

Learn: From the following thought leaders:

John Denniston, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers 
Scott Uknes, In and Out Licensing Lead, Bayer CropScience 
Derek Norman, Investment Manager, Syngenta Ventures 
Chris Berkner, President, PureSense 
Spencer Maughan, Vice President, Venrock 
Andrew Williamson, Director, Physic Ventures  

Be there: VC/Entrepreneur Speed Networking Reception 

Presenting a unique speed networking session for early-stage agtech entrepreneurs and venture capital investors at AgReturn San Francisco! Slots are available for 12 entrepreneurs and 12 investors. Tables will rotate to maximize opportunities for all involved. Participants must be registered with the conference and will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. DEADLINE: REGISTER ONLINE BY FEBRUARY 21ST, 2012.

For further agenda details, information about our speaker forum and to register click here.

Agriculture: Inside an Evolving Asset Class

AgWire Interview Series Takes a Fresh Look at Ag’s Investment Status

By Marc Dresner, IIR

Agrarian societies have been around since the Bronze Age; yet from an investment perspective, agriculture remains something of a novelty—albeit one that’s attracting significant attention of late.

Since things like soil, water, husbandry, etc., would make for unlikely passing fads, it’s a safe bet that agriculture as an investment asset class may be coming into its own.

At least that’s John Chu’s assessment.

The managing director of institutional equity research for agri-industry at AltaCorp Capital noted that as far as the S&P goes, agriculture has historically been more or less a corral of fertilizers and chemicals.

“There really wasn’t enough in the agriculture space to qualify it as an independent sector for a particular focus,” Chu told AgWire.

But new player proliferation amidst consolidating bellwethers, technological innovation, and breakthroughs in productivity and sustainability are stirring an otherwise commoditized giant.

Add opportunities in the BRICs to the mix and the agriculture investment equation becomes pretty appealing.

In this episode of AgWire, Chu surveys the factors conspiring to transform agriculture’s asset class status.

Listen to this episode of AgWire here.

Read a transcript of the interview here.

Editor’s note: AgWire is produced by AgReturn, a global conference series focused on the technologies, companies and investment strategies on the cutting edge of agriculture.

Next up: AgReturn San Francisco, March 13-15! For more information or to register, click here.

ABOUT AGWIRE
AgWire is an executive interview series featuring the business leaders, investment experts, innovators and entrepreneurs at the forefront of the agriculture industry. Each episode explores the trends, technologies and drivers shaping the world of agriculture today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/INTERVIEWER
Marc Dresner is an IIR USA communication lead specializing in audience engagement. He is the former executive editor of Research Business Report, a confidential newsletter for the market research industry. He may be reached at mdresner@iirusa.com. Follow him @mdrezz.

AgReturn San Francisco Presents: Joshua Hofheimer, Counsel, Sidley Austin LLP

We are proud to present, our esteemed colleague Joshua Hofheimer, Counsul at Sidley Austin LLP. Joshua will be leading the charge as Conference Chairman at AgReturn SanFrancisco in March 2012. 

We look forward to his stewardship throughout the conference as we discuss the emerging opportunities in water and agriculture.

In addition, we are excited to announce that we will be releasing a podcast with Joshua later on this month. Given Joshua’s extensive background in agtech development, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, crop technology and business development strategies for agribusiness, the podcast promises to be an insightful stimulus towards the larger AgReturn dialogue.

Be sure to come back after the 21^st of February to hear Joshua’s podcast and get a taste of what's to come at AgReturn San Francisco!

-          The AgReturn Team

Speaker Spotlight! AgReturnSan Francisco presents:

Joshua Hofheimer – Counsel at Sidley Austin LLP

JOSHUA T. HOFHEIMER combines more than a decade of corporate and commercial legal practice with the experience having run a public company to bring his clients focused, practical counsel to help them grow their business and maximize their value and returns. 

His practice focuses on representing clients in agriculture, life sciences and information technology sectors. Mr. Hofheimer’s work spans a broad array of technology, intellectual property and commercial transactions ranging from agricultural technology to medical devices and pharmaceuticals, software, Internet and new media transactions and includes developing and implementing business strategies for commercialization of multiple intellectual property platforms. 

Notably, he represented Monsanto Company in the ground-breaking 2007 Yield and Stress Collaboration Agreement with BASF Plant Sciences LLC to develop high yield and stress tolerant transgenic plant products. 

He also has negotiated research, funding and commercialization agreements and technology spin-outs, as well as developed strategies to exploit proprietary products growing out of the research programs of agri-tech and bio-tech clientele.

From 2008-2010, Mr. Hofheimer was the CEO/Managing Director of Australia’s first publicly listed ag-biotech companies, Hexima Limited (HXL:ASX). While at Hexima, Mr. Hofheimer led the company’s successful effort to forge a commercial path for its disease control platform, entering into a development and commercialization agreement with Dupont company, Pioneer Hi-Bred. The company established further commercial relationships with leading agribusinesses, Monsanto and Bayer Crop Science, and Australian research centers. 

Mr. Hofheimer also currently serves on the board of directors of the Australian Center for Plant Functional Genomics, advising on international commercial and strategic development.

To register, visit www.AgReturnSanFran.com. Attendees can register for all three days at one low price or make the choice to attend the Agriculture 2.0 Symposium or Main Conference only. Brochures can be downloaded online.

And don't forget to follow us @agreturn  and  join us on LinkedIn and Facebook, where you can network all year-round with more of your AGReturn colleagues.