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John Baker shared thisEvery company is a financial instrument. Each has a formula — margin, turnover, leverage, working capital — and each segment of the agrifood value chain solves for return differently. Once you see the formulas, behaviour becomes predictable (or at least understandable). That was the thesis I unpacked at Global AgInvesting in New York in April, and again in Brisbane last week. Agriculture and farm inputs tend to earn much higher EBITDA margins as compensation for capital tied up in longer production cycles, and they source leverage from banks. Retail tends to run on thinner EBITDA margins because asset turnover compensates, and it can optimise cost of capital through a blend of bank and supplier financing. Branded CPG (depending on scale) can partially decouple margin from cycle. What separates the winners within any segment of the chain is how well they optimise the formula. That consistency across regions is itself the signal. Food and agriculture is a truly global asset class — the Laws are segment-driven, not geography-driven, and they hold whether the company is listed in New York or Sydney. None of that diminishes macro. Currency, interest rates and sovereign risk still drive a large share of institutional allocation — to be clear the Laws explain how capital behaves within any segment; macro explains why it moves between regions. Thanks to the GAI team (Jon Levin and Bill Devens in particular) for two outstanding events, and to the conference delegates who challenged and sharpened the thinking.
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John Baker shared this“A rising tide lifts all boats”. Thank you to the Perfection Team; your conduct represents a blueprint on how to manage industry wide virus situations, and importantly how to engage respectfully with industry and government stakeholders, to deliver an outcome that benefits all.John Baker shared thisA full crop cycle, over 100,000 tests, and zero virus detected. That’s the culmination of our team’s dedication and hard work. 🍅🍅🍅 Today, after more than a year, South Australia has been declared free of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), paving the way for growers like Perfection Fresh to return to full trade across the Australian eastern seaboard. The State Government has issued an Area Freedom Certificate, giving interstate markets confidence that South Australia is now free of ToBRFV following extensive testing across the state’s tomato-growing regions. This means our Two Wells site can once again supply South Australian tomatoes to more customers and consumers interstate, allowing more Australians to enjoy the premium-quality fruit and vegetables we grow with care and expertise. With more than 100,000 tests completed at Two Wells alone and zero detections, we are confident our facility is the most tested and cleanest production site in the country. Achieving this result over a full crop cycle is a remarkable milestone that reflects the dedication and hard work of our team. Our world-class biosecurity and control measures, alongside rigorous testing, have ensured this outcome. (Importantly, ToBRFV has never had any impact on human health.) Restoring market access is more than just a win for our team, it strengthens supply chains, supports around 100 direct roles at Two Wells and many more indirectly, and reinforces Australians’ confidence in the quality and safety of South Australian produce. 📸: Heather O’Leary one of our head growers (second from right) with Nick Secomb, Con Poulos and Georgie Cornish GAICD from PIRSA.
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John Baker shared thisLooking forward to speaking at GAI Asia in Tokyo at the end of the month. Thank you to Greg Mellinger, Jon Levin, Bill Devens and Ethan Schwartz for the opportunity!!
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John Baker reposted thisJohn Baker reposted this💰 Show Me the Money! What drives capital behavior, margin evolution, and valuation dynamics across the global food and agribusiness supply chain? John Baker joins us at Global AgInvesting Asia to share insights from a 30+ year journey in research, financing, and private equity investing, uncovering the fundamental principles that shape investment strategies from farm to fork. This is a must-attend session for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of risk, markets, and capital flows in food and agriculture. Don’t miss it: https://hubs.li/Q03L1x5S0
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John Baker reposted thisJohn Baker reposted thisLast weekend, we were honoured to once again support the 39th Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia NSW Gala Ball as a Silver Sponsor. For the second year running, we also donated 50 nights of accommodation to help keep families together during some of the most difficult times of their lives. Thanks to the generosity and spirit of everyone involved, the 2025 Ball raised an incredible $1.5 million to provide vital support for seriously ill children and their families. This funding ensures families can stay close to their child in hospital, have a warm bed, a hot meal, and the comfort of care when they need it most. Our commitment to community partnerships extends beyond business, aiming to make a positive impact on the communities we serve. Perfection Fresh has supported RMHC for more than 15 years, and it is a privilege to stand alongside such a meaningful cause that makes a real difference every day. 📸 A great night on the dance floor at the RMHC NSW Gala Ball. Image courtesy of RMHC NSW Gala Ball and Monique Perera from Camera Creations.
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John Baker reposted thisJohn Baker reposted thisA team from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S) recently toured Perfection Fresh’s state-of-the-art glasshouse facility in Two Wells, South Australia – the largest protected cropping facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Spanning 43 hectares, this advanced site demonstrates how large-scale controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can integrate innovation, sustainability and productivity, with features like closed-loop water systems, on-site energy generation, CO₂ recycling and continuous variety trials. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning. P4S Centre Director Matthew Gilliham, COO Richard Harvey, and Chief Investigators Kim Johnson and Mathew G Lewsey were joined by Veronica Borrett Senior Director of La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food to explore how our research may contribute to the future of protected cropping. Our work on zero-waste plants optimised for controlled environments focuses on tailoring plant traits and growing conditions to maximise productivity, reduce waste and lower input needs. These approaches have potential relevance for both space-based agriculture and next-generation food systems on Earth. Thank you to Perfection Fresh Australia for the tour and discussions. We look forward to ongoing engagement with the protected cropping sector. ARC Research Hub for Protected Cropping (PC Hub) | Australian Plant Phenomics Network
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John Baker reposted thisJohn Baker reposted thisSingapore is an accident. It wasn’t meant to be. It all happened in 1965 where a series of disagreements and misalignments led to the independence of Singapore on August 9th, and the effective separation from Malaysia. This wasn’t ideal for Singapore as it meant losing access to a central government, larger market, defence capabilities, labour, and above all: natural resources. It meant leaving a city state alone in the middle of a turbulent region and times. It created anguish - in its politicians, its population, its partners. That wasn’t meant to happen, Singapore was meant to stay part of Malaysia; but there were differences and political / racial tensions that forced a separation. It left Singapore at a loss and with a dark future ahead. Did the city gave up? No. It pivoted, reinvented itself, turned the racial tensions into a political gain and economic benefit. It didn’t make lemonade with the lemons life gave it; it made one of the most successful lemonade company in the world. It’s never too late to pivot: it’s always better than yesterday. Defeat has always options next to it and we can always turn a page on it. This happened 60 years ago. Now we can turn back and say that there was no need for anguish, but there was; it was the driver of a miracle. From an anguished swamp to one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. Happy birthday Singapore 🇸🇬 stay anguished.
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John Baker reposted thisFor those of you who have never been, Singapore should be on your bucket list.John Baker reposted this>> From tidal flats to financial titan that’s not fiction. In this video you see a little village where the people lived in slum into a mega city from 3rd to 1st world status in record time! That’s a transformation measured not in years, but in decades. How did they do? Lee Kuan Yew crafted a vision: Singapore as Asia’s gateway. They reclaimed land, built world-class infrastructure, enforced rule of law. Some steps offended someone—landlords, entrenched elites, naysayers. But he was sculpting tomorrow, not preserving yesterday. Vision without disruption is vanity. Are you ready to challenge the comfortable to build something extraordinary? #GrowthMindset #Disruption #Asia #Infrastructure #StrategySingapore
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John Baker liked thisThe Summer Berry Company, a Cibus Fund portfolio company, has released the first of a series of new videos. This one follows the journey and people behind each of the 1.3 billion berries they supply annually. It shows many stages that usually stay unseen. An in-house genetics team works at seed stage to find varieties suited to both customer preferences and the growing conditions of their various production sites. A dedicated biodiversity team builds and maintains habitats on site to support natural pest control. Teams of robots equipped with UV-C technology work through the night applying disease prevention without synthetic inputs. These elements are what make The Summer Berry Company's growing model unique. See the video for more.John Baker liked this🎬 Our new brand film is now live. Have you ever wondered what it takes for a berry to reach your hands? From the planting of a young plant to the care it receives throughout the growing season, from harvesting and packing to delivery, every step matters. Our new brand film takes you behind the scenes of The Summer Berry Company and follows the journey of a berry from field to customer, showcasing the people, expertise, and innovation that make it possible. ▶️We invite you to watch the film and discover the story behind every berry. 👇 #TheSummerBerryCompany #BerryJourney #FieldToFork #FreshProduce #Agriculture #BerryGrowing #Innovation #Sustainability #Everyberryhasastorytotell #BrandFilm
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John Baker liked thisJohn Baker liked thisThe Socceroos may have been sent packing from the FIFA World Cup, but Australia still has a few world-beaters left. 🐐 Australia's goat industry has just delivered a record-breaking year, setting new highs for production, exports, and value. According to MLA's latest Goatmeat Snapshot: • 4.05 million goats processed • 63,672 tonnes produced • 61,766 tonnes exported • A record A$464 million in export value While Australia won't be lifting the World Cup trophy this year, it's clear Australian goatmeat continues to find fans around the globe—particularly in the United States, which remains our largest export market. Not a bad result for an industry that often flies under the radar. The football might be over for us, but Australian goat is still making a strong run on the world stage. #AustralianGoat #GoatMeat #Agriculture #AustralianAgriculture #Exports #Protein #FoodIndustry
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John Baker liked thisJohn Baker liked thisIf you had told me a few months ago that I'd still be in Brazil, I probably wouldn't have believed you. What started as a two month internship has turned into an experience I never expected, one that I'm grateful to continue. Working at Aqua Capital has given me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of private equity, work on exciting investment opportunities, and learn every day from an exceptional team. At the same time, living abroad has taught me lessons that go far beyond the office: adapting to a new culture, learning Portuguese, and getting comfortable being outside my comfort zone. I'm grateful for the trust, the opportunities, and everyone who has been part of this experience. Looking forward to what's next.
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John Baker liked thisJohn Baker liked this🎗️ Dry July 2026: Done. ✅ 31 days ✅ 0 beers ✅ A lot of temptation ✅ Countless fundraising posts ✅ One furry alien ✅ $6,258.81 raised for Cancer Council What started as a personal challenge became something much bigger. Together we've raised $6,258.81 to help Cancer Council support Australians and families affected by cancer. Still time to sneak in a last-minute donation: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gBpZHxnQ For me personally, the health benefits have been enormous. Better sleep, more energy, clearer thinking, feeling fitter, dropping a few kilos and generally feeling a whole lot better than I did on 1 July. But the real win is the money raised and the reminder that good people will always dig deep for a cause that matters. 💛 Thank you to every single person who donated. 💛 Thank you to everyone who followed along for the ride. 💛 Thank you to everyone who tolerated another Dry July post landing in their feed. 💛 Thank you to everyone who helped bring it home strong. Donor Roll Call 🙏 Craig Dugan James Busby Tim Lane Ben Twomey Scott Mailler Jayden Sobey Tash Kemp Sule Arnautovic Kristy Choat Ben H. Tony Bundock Melissa Cook Daniel Goldberg Alex Bao Alastair Delooze Paul Wilson Brett Fifield Erin Corish Rachel Holloway Joe Martin Kate Jekyll James Duddy David McGuigan @Helen Heffernan Mark Jones @DingleBA Cameron Ireland Nick Gaston Peter Durand Luke Foster Glenn Rosbrook GAICD Madeleine Kulakauskas Simon Beirne Magdalene McCutcheon Annie Scott John Harrison Nick Connor @AgField Services @Elizabeth Tout Thomas Ryan @Professional Traffic Solutions @Kristina Hermanson @Matthew Plunkett @Danny Thomas @Mal Baker @Cameron Bush @Kate McGorman @Denis Dullemans @Trent Paola @Daniel Miskiewicz @John Surian @Pivot Funding @Nathan Guo @Elizabeth Stanley @John Mathew @Cameron Mullen @James Beer @Peter O'Donnell @Dan Tout @Matthew Rowlands @Ben Vereb @Alexandra Koolman @Ben Waters And a special mention to the bloke who made two donations to his own fundraiser because he became obsessed with hitting the target... @Andrew Tout 🤦♂️😂 Still time to sneak in a last-minute donation: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gBpZHxnQ Thank you everyone. You genuinely made a difference. 💛🎗️💪🐾 #DryJuly #CancerCouncil #ThankYou #BringItHomeStrong #AgricultureForACause #DryJuly2026
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John Baker liked thisIt provides a fresher perspective and sense of humbleness when you witness both ends of the food value chain. Nurturing produce in its infancy and then buying it off the supermarket shelves, knowing what efforts have gone into putting it there, and you have in your capacity contributed to making it happen. It's technology and nature in cohesion to cater to the most basic human need.John Baker liked thisWhen a grower places an order with Withcott Seedlings, they're not just buying a tray of plants. They're buying the outcome of a process that started well before those seedlings were ever transplanted - and that process is why the results are consistent, season after season. Here's what goes into every order we produce: 🌱 Seed selection and sourcing We work with growers' preferred seed suppliers and can advise on variety suitability for your region and target market before a single seed is sown. 🌱 Controlled germination environments Every crop has its own requirements. Temperature, humidity and airflow in our growing houses are managed specifically for each variety - reducing germination risk and building strong early root systems. 🌱 Biosecurity from day one Foot and wheel baths, sterilised trays and equipment, raised aluminium benches - the protocols are in place before the first seed goes in, not after something goes wrong. 🌱 Seedling traceability Every tray we produce is traceable. You know where it came from, how it was grown, and what it's been exposed to. 🌱 Logistics you can plan around We manage our own delivery fleet. Your seedlings leave our nursery at Postmans Ridge and arrive at your property on time, in the condition they left - ready to go into the ground. This is what 40+ years of growing looks like in practice.
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John Baker liked thisWell done Cibus team and all of our amazing portfolio companies and the incredible people that make impact happen.John Baker liked thisToday marks the release of our fifth sustainability report, providing a detailed overview of how we protect our investments, implement evolving systems, create value through ESG and gather learnings. In ten years of Cibus we've seen that progress is rarely linear but that sustainability drives value in food and agriculture. Our portfolio is very much living proof. Society is at an inflection point – volatility is the new standard as droughts, floods, tariffs, conflict and crises hit the headlines with incredible regularity. Against this backdrop, a deliberate approach to sustainability is about survival as well as growth. Companies that moved faster on structural resilience investments in energy independence, water security and supply chain stability are coming through the shocks stronger. We're also publishing this report at an inflection point for Cibus. Our first fund is approaching maturity and we're seeing the long-term outcomes of our early investments. The learnings we picked up along the way are being applied in real time, with Fund II in mid-deployment. This report isn't a framework exercise; it's freestyled, intentionally. It's where we provide the real context behind decision-making and show the insights we've collected from doing, not just talking. The full report is linked in the comments below. #SustainabilityReport #ESG #ESGValueCreation #Resilience
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John Baker liked thisJohn Baker liked thisToday marks the release of our fifth sustainability report, providing a detailed overview of how we protect our investments, implement evolving systems, create value through ESG and gather learnings. In ten years of Cibus we've seen that progress is rarely linear but that sustainability drives value in food and agriculture. Our portfolio is very much living proof. Society is at an inflection point – volatility is the new standard as droughts, floods, tariffs, conflict and crises hit the headlines with incredible regularity. Against this backdrop, a deliberate approach to sustainability is about survival as well as growth. Companies that moved faster on structural resilience investments in energy independence, water security and supply chain stability are coming through the shocks stronger. We're also publishing this report at an inflection point for Cibus. Our first fund is approaching maturity and we're seeing the long-term outcomes of our early investments. The learnings we picked up along the way are being applied in real time, with Fund II in mid-deployment. This report isn't a framework exercise; it's freestyled, intentionally. It's where we provide the real context behind decision-making and show the insights we've collected from doing, not just talking. The full report is linked in the comments below. #SustainabilityReport #ESG #ESGValueCreation #Resilience
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John Baker liked thisJohn Baker liked thisWe are delighted to welcome Harry Smit, Senior Analyst at RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness, to the DFA Global Agriculture Leadership Conference 2027. On Day 1, Harry will present: Navigating the Next Food-System Supercycle: Strategic Choices for Farming A research-based perspective on slowing global food demand and production growth, climate and regulatory pressures, and trade dependencies – translated into economic, societal, and high-tech strategies for capturing future food-system value. Harry advises clients and Rabobank on how the transition of the global food system impacts business models throughout the food and agribusiness value chain. Harry will be with us throughout the conference and looks forward to engaging directly with the DFA community, continuing the dialogue, and answering further questions. 📅 Save the date: 28–29 January 2027 | Copenhagen We encourage DFA members to reserve the dates for themselves and other key decision-makers in their businesses.
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John Baker liked thisJohn Baker liked thisAmerica is a fascinating place. A country where you can buy a burger so tall it needs structural engineering, and where someone, somewhere, decided marshmallows belonged on sweet potatoes. So perhaps it’s no surprise more Americans are discovering lamb. Because even the nation that invented spray cheese knows that when the product is exceptional, less really is more. Just salt. Fire. Lamb. While the rest of the world is busy creating another cheese-filled, bacon-wrapped, deep-fried 1,200-calorie culinary experiment... Tasmanians have quietly been perfecting one thing. Lamb. No gimmicks. No trends. No need to hide behind a mountain of toppings. Just generations of farmers, clean air, green pastures, and grass doing what grass does best. Funny how an island at the bottom of the world keeps reminding the world's biggest food market that sometimes, simplicity tastes better. Sometimes the smallest places make the biggest impression. #LambOfTasmania #AustralianLamb #Tasmania #GrassFed #FoodCulture #EatBetter
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