Calgary, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) – A company that allows consumers to invest directly in agriculture and agricultural production is preparing to expand its model into Canada, offering farmers an alternative source of operating capital.
Lindsay Skabar, CEO of Invest in Farmers Canada (IIF), said the company is responding to rising production costs and the difficulty of entering the agriculture industry.
“Farming has gotten more difficult over time,” she said. “It’s more expensive than ever before, and consumers have become completely disjointed and have very little understanding of what it takes to put food on their plate.”
The company allows investors to put money into the costs associated with a production cycle rather than buying land or an entire farm.
Farmers receive capital at the beginning of the season, then continue farming as usual while providing investors with updates and educational videos. At the end of the production cycle, the returns are shared between the farmer and investor.
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“It’s basically digitizing share farming, which is a concept that’s been going on for decades in farming, but something that consumers and the community have never had access to before. So our investors have the ability to have a calf, a cherry tree, 24 oysters, a piglet, and an acre of canola on their farm this season. And they get to participate in the outcomes, and they get to learn along the way.”
Skabar uses the example of cattle and the high prices Canadian beef producers face.
“Livestock is an area where people are extraordinarily excited to get access to a totally different type of capital than they’ve ever had before,” she explained. “Beef prices are soaring. And if you talk to a rancher, they would love to be able to grow back their herd size to take advantage of what’s happening out there in the market right now, but they don’t have the cash burning a hole in their pocket to go and take advantage of the situation they’re in”
Under the model, consumers can invest in an individual cow, with IIF providing capital for the animal, labour, feed and machinery required through the production cycle.
IIF began in Australia and is now in its fourth season operating in Australia and New Zealand. Skabar said it has invested just under $30 million in about 100 farmers.
The company has launched a pilot in Canada and is initially focusing on finding producers who are expanding their operations and looking for capital to pursue new opportunities.
Skabar said IIF also hopes to help producers adopt new technologies by including those investments in the production cost.
The company is targeting a broader Canadian launch by the Calgary Stampede in 2027.
