Alternative Outlook

One of the major reasons for our bullishness on farmland investing is the availability of quality farmland. As a graph from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) clearly demonstrates, the amount of arable farmland has already shrunk and will continue to do so.

China has actually been a particular victim of this trend. To take a more specific example of this trend. China currently contains 20pc of the world’s population, but only 7pc of its arable farmland. Unfortunately for the Chinese, China has already been losing arable …

Advancing plans for a fleet of large offshore wind projects have seen the UK rise to fifth on a list of the world’s most attractive countries for renewable energy investors, providing a timely boost to the government’s green agenda.

Plans for the world’s largest wind farm, a £4.5bn, 1,500MW development 13 miles off the coast of Caithness in Scotland, as well as the award of a £150m European Investment Bank loan to wind farm developer Vattenfall to support the extension of the existing Thanet offshore wind farm were cited as th…

Climate change is one of the gravest threats facing the globe.

However, the development of renewable energy sources, alongside nuclear power and carbon capture and storage techniques, helps cut the harmful greenhouse gases that cause it.

Renewable energy resources form a key part of the UK’s plans for reducing the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels for its energy needs.

Although they currently constitute a small percentage of the UK’s energy market, they are a growing force. The UK is uniquely positioned to take advantage of a wid…

Finland’s increased timber products expert figures show that demand for timber is set to grow, according to Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The research and analysis consultancy was responding to figures showing that Finland’s forestry industry exports rose by 4 per cent last year, and the value of the industry increased to EUR 20.8 billion.

FRA added that the increase reflects analysts’ views that the demand for timber in China, India and other growing economies, is huge and will continue to grow. Indeed, demand will start to e…

As interest in alternative asset investment grows, investing in fine wine is becoming popular. With the traditional Bordeaux region a stable and predictable way to diversify and grow an investment portfolio is this a better option than backing Burgundy?

Wine investment

Following the great success of Burgundy’s 2010 vintage there has been a sharp rise in interest in it from those looking to invest in fine wine.

However, the Board of Premier Cru Fine Wine Investments Ltd. (“Premier Cru”), the world’s leading fine wine investment …

Global demand for gold in 2011 rose to 4,067.1 tonnes (t) worth an estimatedUS$205.5 billion - the first time that global demand has exceeded US$200billion and the highest tonnage level since 1997, according to the World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends. The main driver for this increase was the investment sector where annual demand was 1,640.7t up 5% on the previous record set in 2010 and with a value of US$82.9 billion. The pre-eminent markets for investment demand in 2011 were India, China and Europe. China and India remain…

Investment is not all about the end result; the process of isolating and finalising a new opportunity can provide great enjoyment and give you a real buzz. Alternative investments are particularly great for this, it is hugely satisfying to sniff out a profitable yet unusual area for investment and then make a return on it. This taste of the exotic means there is more of a sense of adventure when you are investing in carbon credits in the Brazilian rainforest, for example, compared to when you buy shares in a local pharmaceutical company.

It …

Boutique investment firm GreenWorld BVI announced that it now is able to offer individuals a unique African farmland investment opportunity. GreenWorld’s farmland investment offering is located in the African country of Sierra Leone, and has a minimum investment requirement of only £1,950/hectare for high quality farmland that has already begun producing.

Food prices have exploded in the last few years, and the United Nations recently estimated that global food production will need to grow 70% by 2050. With population expected to surge fr…

The fine wine market is expected to grow by 10% in 2012, as strong value buying opportunities for buyers and investors emerge, says a global survey of the wine trade.

Canvassing the opinions of 120 leading merchants, auction houses and investment fund managers in the fine wine sector, the survey shows an overcorrection in the second half of last year has led to good opportunities for buyers.

The Fine Wine Market Outlook 2012 is a joint report by journalist-based intelligence service Wealthmonitor and online magazine Wine Yiel…

Managers of funds investing in UK renewable energy projects have welcomed some of the proposed changes to feed-in tariffs (FiT) announced last week, but say they are unlikely to invest in new solar projects.

The UK government launched consultations last week on a raft of proposed changes, notably on a system for gradually reducing support (or ‘tariff degression’) for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, which were subject to a controversial decision to slash subsidies last year.

However, this aspect was largely irrelevant to the cro…