Champaign, Illinois, USA
December 4, 2020
Together as an industry, we are facing truly unprecedented times. Like all of you, Verdant Partners continues to navigate the challenges and uncertainties of conducting business in the “new normal” environment of COVID-19. We are fortunate to work with a diverse assortment of companies in the food and agricultural industry, ranging from privately-held early-stage businesses to publicly traded multinationals across various geographies and industry segments. An industry as robust and crucial as food and agriculture shows its resiliency in times like these, and we are further encouraged by the ongoing ability to overcome newfound obstacles. In these uncertain times, our team at Verdant Partners has taken measures to strengthen and grow its business and focus, including the addition of new team members and affiliates with diverse capabilities and experience that will bring even greater value to our clients.
During the past year, Verdant has formed strategic alliances with experts across the agriculture industry, including 1) agriculture technology; 2) animal genetics, production, and processing; and 3) biological inputs. Each of these growing segments of agriculture provide great potential for improvements through strategic consolidation and partnerships; Verdant’s alliances with these companies represent our firm’s commitment to serving the global food and agribusiness industry.
Aaron Magenheim, CEO of AgTech Insight, became an Advisor to Verdant Partners effective October 2020
Last year, Verdant announced the formation of a strategic alliance with AgTech Insight LLC, a global consulting firm with over 20 advisors focused on the implementation of precision and digital ag technology. The announcement follows the inclusion of Chris Harbourt, Ph.D. to Verdant’s Advisory team. Prior to his work with Verdant, Dr. Harbourt was involved with multiple ag-technology companies, most notably as co-founder and founding CEO of Agrible. More recently, AgTech Insight’s CEO, Aaron Magenheim, also joined Verdant’s team of Advisors, further strengthening our relationship with AgTech Insight and doubling down on our commitment to this space. Verdant sees great value in the ag-technology sector and continues to grow its capabilities and existing client-base in the market.
Over the course of the past six months, Verdant has entered into a collaboration with TerraProtein Equity Partners, a global agricultural corporate finance firm with offices in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Armidale, Australia. TerraProtein distinguishes itself through its partners’ mix of operational and financial background, strong global agri network, and unique client engagement model.
The firm has extensive experience in the animal protein production and processing markets. Through this collaboration, Verdant has built a stronger presence in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and extended its capabilities to a new segment of agriculture.
Verdant has also formed a strategic partnership with AgriThority LLC in the agriculture biologics sector for M&A representation. AgriThority is a business, product and market development company that works closely with innovative agtech and biotech companies and has an unmatched knowledge of this emerging market segment. Through this relationship, Verdant and AgriThority will bring added value to companies seeking partnerships or sell and buy-side advisory in the chemical and biological crop enhancement and protection industries.
Andrew Johnson joined Verdant Partners as a full-time Associate in May 2020
Lastly, Verdant expanded its core team with the addition of Andrew Johnson as an Associate in its Champaign, Illinois office. Mr. Johnson attended the University of Illinois and received his degree in Agricultural Economics in May 2020. During his college career Mr. Johnson held positions with financial and consulting groups. Mr. Johnson’s role will include industry analysis and reporting, client assignment support, and financial analysis.
Please see further updates on our newly improved website.
About Verdant Partners
Verdant Partners is wholly focused on global agribusiness and the transactions that shape the competitive landscape of our industry. We have built a team of professionals that includes seasoned veterans from within the industry, with skill sets extending beyond those of traditional transaction advisors. For this reason, we are recognized as a leading transaction advisory and consulting group in this global agribusiness industry. Our focus covers the span of crop-based agriculture, with expertise on both sides of the farm-gate. Since our founding in 1998, Verdant has initiated and managed successful transactions and alliances valued in excess of US$2.5 billion. Verdant advises privately held businesses, multinational public companies, venture capital and private equity investors, and technology companies throughout the world. Verdant’s team is comprised of professionals located in offices across North and South America, Europe, and Australia.
About AgTech Insight
AgTech Insight is a global, full-spectrum AgriFood and Technology implementation, consulting and advisory firm providing expertise to ensure success in today’s economy. Our diverse team consists of experienced, top-level AgTech professionals from around the world, each offering specialized skillsets and have real boots-on-the-ground success in implementing best practices and technology.
We work with a variety of clients: from the public sector and NGO’s, through some of the largest corporates and investors. We are driven to improve economies, business, the environment, sustainability, food security, poverty and women’s involvement. Through the years, we have developed a database of over 3,000 international AgTech companies to connect our clients with the best solutions available for their specific needs. Our team works across the ag and food space from water, soil and genetics through the growing cycle to traceability, processing, cold chain to the consumer – both indoor and outdoor, crops and animals – in any geography – to provide proven methodologies, solutions and support from around the world.
About TerraProtein Equity Partners
TerraProtein Equity Partners’ strengths lie in the operational and hands-on agricultural knowledge of its partners and management who have the unique capability to transfer this expertise into practical and scalable opportunities to sustainably grow agricultural enterprises. TPEP typically works with agricultural producers, business owners and investors across the agriculture value chain. TPEP are advisors and investors in leading agribusinesses located in the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and East Africa, with continued expansion into new territories such as the US and Australasia.
About AgriThority
AgriThority was founded in 2008 to aid the movement of agricultural innovations to market. Our seasoned, scientific global network serves as an independent and collaborative resource devoted to accelerating product, business, and market development to speed new innovations to commercialization. We help overcome regulatory challenges, manage trial design and execution, and establish connections for market access.
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