Investors and fund managers putting capital to work in U.S. agri

The Fifth Annual Agri Investor Chicago Forum will bring together top institutional investors, family offices, fund and asset managers, regulators, advisors and producers for an editorially rich discussion of agriculture as an investment opportunity.

Attendees will network with agribusiness leaders and connect with key decision makers at the only US event exclusively focused on fundraising and investment in global agriculture.

2019 DISCUSSION TOPICS INCLUDE:

  • AgTech
  • Impact investing
  • Farmland investing
  • Water investing
  • Agri deals of the year
  • LP perspectives- the agri investment process & fundamentals

2019 keynote speaker

Jamie Shen

Chief Investment Officer

PGIM Agriculture Investments

 

In this role, Jamie leads the equity team in managing the portfolio of agricultural properties. Prior to joining Prudential in 2017, Jamie was an Executive Vice President and Practice Leader of Alternative Investments Consulting with Callan Associates where she had overall responsibility for Real Assets Consulting services.

 

2019 brochure now available

Download the brochure to view:

  • Confirmed speakers

  • Agenda

  • Networking opportunities

  • Event highlights

  • and more! 

Special Rate for Agri Producers

The Forum welcomes top agriculture producers* to attend at a special rate to address the most pressing topics in agri across the supply chain. In 2019, meet with investors and fund managers to build powerful relationships and discuss investment opportunities from your unique and expert perspective.

*primary producer, i.e. individual owner/operator ‘behind the farm gate’, across sectors.

2019 agenda

Interested in speaking at the 2019 Forum?

Please contact Joan Moh at joan.m@peimedia.com or call +1 212 796 8322 ext 157

Day 1 Day 2
View agenda page

Agenda

Day 1 - Tuesday 12th

General session
08:00 - 08:45

Registration and networking breakfast

08:45 - 09:00

PEI welcome & chairperson’s introduction

09:00 - 09:30

Keynote presentation

Jamie Shen

Keynote interviewee:
Jamie Shen, Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Agricultural Investments

A speaker photo for Jamie Shen

Jamie Shen

Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Agricultural Investments

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09:30 - 10:20

Agriculture’s place in the GP/LP nexus | Big picture institutional demand

Amy Hauke, Atish Babu, David Chattleton, Eric O’Brien, Greg Richards

Potential interest rate changes, geopolitical disruption and fears about equity market resilience are all helping drive increasing LP attention to real assets. In this panel, participants will discuss:

  • Which other real assets present the clearest competition to agriculture for space in LP portfolios?
  • How have investment structures responded to LP demand for collaboration and transparency?
  • Will investors entering the market now alter the balance between growth and wealth preservation in various agri strategies?

Moderator:
Amy Hauke, Director – Private Equity, BMO Wealth Management

Speakers:
Atish Babu,
Vice President, Agriculture Capital
David Chattleton, Managing Partner, Tiverton Advisors
Eric O’Brien, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fall Line Capital
Greg Richards, Managing Director, Arable Capital Partners

A speaker photo for Amy Hauke

Amy Hauke

Director – Private Equity, BMO Wealth Management

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A speaker photo for Atish Babu

Atish Babu

Senior Vice President, Agriculture Capital

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A speaker photo for David Chattleton

David Chattleton

Managing Partner, Tiverton Advisors

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A speaker photo for Eric O’Brien

Eric O’Brien

Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fall Line Capital

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A speaker photo for Greg Richards

Greg Richards

Managing Director, Arable Capital Partners

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10:20 - 11:10

Where’s the beef? | PE’s role in the plant-based alternatives sector

Greg Bohlen, Rich Gammill, Danny O’Malley

Burger King’s adoption of the Impossible Burger is just the latest indication that demand for plant-based proteins will continue to see growth inspired by their appeal to a healthy and climate conscious consumers. This panel will further explore this demand and the driving forces behind it.

  • How has institutional capital defined its role within a market driven by early-stage ventures?
  • What, if any, impact will Beyond Meat’s stock performance or skepticism on health benefits have on institutional demand for exposure to the plant-based protein market?
  • Not all meatless alternatives are created equal; which are the burgeoning market’s leaders and laggers?

Moderator:
Greg Bohlen, Managing Partner, Union Grove Venture Partners

Speakers:
Rich Gammill, Managing Partner, Proterra Investment Partners
Danny O’Malley, The Presiplant and Founder, Before the Butcher, Inc.

A speaker photo for Greg Bohlen

Greg Bohlen

Managing Partner, Union Grove Venture Partners

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A speaker photo for Rich Gammill

Rich Gammill

Managing Partner, Proterra Investment Partners

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A speaker photo for Danny O’Malley

Danny O’Malley

The Presiplant and Founder, Before the Butcher, Inc

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11:10 - 11:40

Networking break

11:40 - 12:30

AgTech | Exploring PE’s role in a very broad market

Ray Smith, Pamela G. Marrone, PhD., Dr. David Muth, Anna Rath, PhD., Ivan Saval

After monitoring progress and investing selectively for much of the past decade, biologicals have emerged among the corners of the vast AgTech market best suited to institutional capital. As consumer demand for sustainability continues to grow, farmers’ need for new and better technologies will only drive demand for this sector further. We will take an in-depth look into:

  • What are the current or potential future regulations most likely to create market opportunities for investors exploring biologicals?
  • How are firms collaborating with strategic investors and other LPs interested in playing a more direct role?
  • Who is financing the research that will drive future rounds of innovation?

Moderator:
Ray Smith, Vice President, Investment and Business Strategy, AgLaunch

Speakers:
Pamela G. Marrone, PhD.,
Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Marrone Bio Innovations
Dr. David Muth, Senior Vice President, Peoples Company
Anna Rath, PhD., President, Chief Executive Officer, Vestaron 
Ivan Saval,
Managing Director – Agribusiness & Food Investment Banking, National Securities Corp.

A speaker photo for Ray Smith

Ray Smith

Vice President, Investment and Business Strategy, AgLaunch

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A speaker photo for Pamela G. Marrone, PhD.

Pamela G. Marrone, PhD.

Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Marrone Bio Innovations

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A speaker photo for Dr. David Muth

Dr. David Muth

Senior Vice President, Peoples Company

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A speaker photo for Anna Rath, PhD.

Anna Rath, PhD.

President, Chief Executive Officer, Vestaron

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A speaker photo for Ivan Saval

Ivan Saval

Managing Director – Agribusiness & Food Investment Banking, National Securities Corp.

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12:30 - 13:30

Networking lunch

13:30 - 14:20

Why now? | The real deals of the year

Aaron Knewtson, Cameron Dunn, John Goodreds, Jim Schultz

Private mangers’ efforts to exert greater control over food supply chains take place in a content of demographic, technological and political changes that frame their role in agriculture. Our panel of leading agri GPs will swap notes on the key fundraising and deal trends in the market.  It will address:

  • Where have investors have proved most attractive to PE investors?
  • Where they have found the greatest inefficiencies with vertical integration?
  • What consumption trends seem most likely to create new opportunities for investors looking to stay ahead of demand?

Moderator:
Aaron Knewtson, Vice President- Food and Agribusiness, Compeer Financial

Speakers:
Cameron Dunn,
Managing Partner, Tillridge
John Goodreds, Managing Director, AGR Partners
Jim Schultz,
Founder, Chairman, Open Prairie

A speaker photo for Aaron Knewtson

Aaron Knewtson

Vice President - Food and Agribusiness, Compeer Financial

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A speaker photo for Cameron Dunn

Cameron Dunn

Managing Partner, Tillridge

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A speaker photo for John Goodreds

John Goodreds

Managing Director, AGR Partners

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A speaker photo for Jim Schultz

Jim Schultz

Founder, Chairman, Open Prairie

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Breakout session I
14:20 - 15:10

Track A – Private investor's role in the U.S. hemp supply chain

Viki Radden, Christopher Chapman , Sean Doyle, Eric London, Chad Rosen, Shonda Warner

Legalization of industrial hemp in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill cleared the way for a flurry of private investor activity. It remains unclear whether investment in industrial hemp could also bring more investors into booming market for CBD, an oil extract with no psychoactive properties. In this session we will explore:

  • Has the introduction of crop insurance for hemp made it likely the crop will be planted on institutionally owned farmland?
  • Have any institutional investors been tempted into jumping on the hemp/CBD bandwagon?
  • Can legal hemp lead to investment opportunities for the cannabis industry?

Moderator:
Viki Radden, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Honor Harvest

Speakers:
Christopher Chapman, Managing Director, Debt, AMERRA Capital
Sean Doyle, Senior Associate, Salveo Capital
Eric London, Partner, Tress Capital
Chad Rosen, Founder & CEO, Victory Hemp
Shonda K. Warner, Managing Partner, Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners LLC

A speaker photo for Viki Radden

Viki Radden

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Honor Harvest

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A speaker photo for Christopher Chapman

Christopher Chapman

Managing Director, Debt, Amerra Capital

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A speaker photo for Sean Doyle

Sean Doyle

Senior Associate, Salveo Capital

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A speaker photo for Eric London

Eric London

Partner, Tress Capital

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A speaker photo for Chad Rosen

Chad Rosen

Founder & CEO, Victory Hemp

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A speaker photo for Shonda  Warner

Shonda Warner

Founder and Managing Partner, Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners

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14:20 - 15:10

Track B – Timber | Challenges, opportunities and the market response

Jim McBride, L. Richard Doelling, Robert Hagler

A variety of factors have conspired to frustrate timber managers’ efforts to meet return expectations for investment vehicles launched over the last decade. With the savviest mangers already working to redefine an asset class previously market by its tranquility, this session we explore:

  • What are the factors that have led to a slowdown in timber fundraising/activity?
  • How are managers looking to position timber within a broader societal focus on climate and ecosystem services?
  • Which regions and asset types are best positioned to benefit as focus shifts from wealth preservation to environmental preservation?

Moderator:
Jim McBride, Head of Distribution – Timberland Investment Group, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group

Speakers:
L. Richard Doeling,
Director of Client Relations, Forest Investment Associates
Robert Hagler, Associate Director, Investor Relations, New Forests

A speaker photo for Jim McBride

Jim McBride

Head of Distribution - Timberland Investment Group, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group

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A speaker photo for L. Richard Doelling

L. Richard Doelling

Director of Client Relations, Forest Investment Associates

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A speaker photo for Robert Hagler

Robert Hagler

Associate Director, Investor Relations, New Forests

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Breakout session II
15:10 - 16:00

Track A – Organics | The active corner of the big market

Kellee James, Eric Jackson, Craig Wichner

With conventional wisdom having finally ruled consumers’ move towards organic and healthy offerings as more of a structural change than passing fad, investors have started to position themselves to benefit from this movement.  Our experts will investigate:

  • How are farmland mangers going about increasing organic acreage under their management?
  • How are PE investors / banks / other lenders supporting the 3-year transition to organic?
  • How will the role of organic imports change as domestic production continues to rise?

Moderator:
Kellee James, CEO, Mercaris

Speakers:
Eric Jackson, Founder & Chairman, Pipeline Foods
Craig Wichner, Managing Partner, Farmland LP

A speaker photo for Kellee James

Kellee James

CEO, Mercaris

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A speaker photo for Eric Jackson

Eric Jackson

Founder & Chairman, Pipeline Foods

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A speaker photo for Craig Wichner

Craig Wichner

Managing Partner, Farmland LP

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15:10 - 16:00

Track B – Aquaculture | PE’s role in this key emerging protein market

Chris Janiec, Tom Amis, Howard Tang

While it is clear farmed fish will play a greater role in meeting future protein demand, outside of regional pockets where the industry draws on a long-history, private equity’s role in the necessary build-out is only now coming into focus.  Issues that we will examine include:

  • What role can PE play in finding a balance between onshore / offshore approaches?
  • Which feed alternatives have attracted the most institutional investments and why?
  • What lessons and best practices can aquaculture glean from other livestock sectors?

Moderator:
Chris Janiec, Americas Editor, Agri Investor

Speakers:
Tom Amis, Senior Principal and Management Committee, Controlled Environment Foods, Equilibrium
Howard Tang, Managing Director, Lighthouse Finance

A speaker photo for Chris Janiec

Chris Janiec

Americas Editor, Agri Investor

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A speaker photo for Tom Amis

Tom Amis

Head of the EQ Controlled Environment Team, Equilibrium

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A speaker photo for Howard Tang

Howard Tang

Managing Director, Lighthouse Finance

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Afternoon sessions
16:00 - 16:20

Networking break

16:20 - 17:10

The LPs’ perspective | The agri investment process & fundamentals

Chris Morris, Barry Bogseth, Sarah Gal

The development of agriculture as an asset class has occurred alongside broader evolutions in the LP/GP dynamic. In this session, market participants will examine some of the factors influencing LP demand for exposure to ag and strategies that have deployed to manage the variety of risks and opportunities in the sector.

  • Has the debate surrounding where within an institutional portfolio agriculture should be housed finally been settled? If so, where?
  • What are the biggest internal obstacles for an LP interested in adding agriculture to its portfolio and how can they overcome these challenges?
  • What alternatives to closed-end fund structures most effectively ensure alignment on strategy, risk-management and returns?

Moderator:
Chris Morris, CFO, LandFund Partners

Speakers:
Barry Bogseth,
Managing Director – Agricultural Strategies Group, MetLife Investment Management
Sarah Gal,
Vice President, Callan

A speaker photo for Chris  Morris

Chris Morris

CFO, LandFund Partners

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A speaker photo for Barry Bogseth

Barry Bogseth

Managing Director – Agricultural Strategies Group, MetLife Investment Management

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A speaker photo for Sarah Gal

Sarah Gal

Vice President, Callan

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17:10 - 18:10

Networking reception

Agenda

Day 2 - Wednesday 13th

General session
08:30 - 09:15

Registration and networking breakfast

09:15 - 09:20

PEI welcome

09:20 - 10:10

The state of play in US farmland

Daniel Kowalski, John Farris, Stavros Koutsantonis, Perry Vieth

The sharp drop in soybean exports to China has been only the most dramatic of a series of challenges facing farmland investors. Our speakers will weigh in on the following questions:

  • What risks / opportunities have been created by this spring’s unprecedented rains?
  • What role are private investors playing in reconfiguring the geography of crop production in the Americas?
  • How has /will the political noise surrounding agricultural trade impact strategy / fundraising prospects for farmland managers?

Moderator:
Daniel Kowalski, Vice President – Knowledge Exchange, CoBank

Speakers:
John Farris,
President & Founder, LandFund Partners
Stavros Koutsantonis, Managing Director, Conservation Resources
Perry Vieth, Founder & CEO, Ceres Partners

A speaker photo for Daniel Kowalski

Daniel Kowalski

Vice President – Knowledge Exchange, CoBank

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A speaker photo for John Farris

John Farris

President & Founder, LandFund Partners

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A speaker photo for Stavros Koutsantonis

Stavros Koutsantonis

Managing Director, Conservation Resources

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A speaker photo for Perry Vieth

Perry Vieth

Founder & CEO, Ceres Partners

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10:10 - 11:00

Ag & impact | Riding the regenerative wave

Joshua Humphreys, PhD., Alec Gorynski, David LeZaks, David Nicola, Mark D. Schindel

Agriculture finds itself at the center of a global conversation about climate, inequality and capitalism that is reaching a fever pitch. In this session, we will discuss:

  • What are the new sources of capital looking at agriculture as part of their approaches to climate and how best can mangers collaborate with them?
  • Which markets / sectors are best positioned to benefit from both traditional and impact-minded interest in agriculture?
  • To what degree are managers considering metrics to measure social impact as part of their “secret sauce” and which are most appropriate for ag?

Moderator:
Joshua Humphreys, PhD, President and Senior Fellow, Croatan Institute

Speakers:
Alec Gorynski, Vice President, Community Development and Corporate Philanthropy, First National Bank
David LeZaks, Lead-Regenerative Food Systems, Delta Institute
David Nicola, Founder & CEO, Blackdirt Farms
Mark D. Schindel, Chief Financial and Investment Officer, Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT

A speaker photo for Joshua Humphreys, PhD.

Joshua Humphreys, PhD.

President and Senior Fellow, Croatan Institute

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A speaker photo for Alec Gorynski

Alec Gorynski

Vice President, Community Development and Corporate Philanthropy, First National Bank

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A speaker photo for David LeZaks

David LeZaks

Lead - Regenerative Food Systems, Delta Institute

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A speaker photo for David Nicola

David Nicola

Founder & CEO, Blackdirt Farms

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A speaker photo for Mark D. Schindel

Mark D. Schindel

Chief Financial and Investment Officer, Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT

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11:00 - 11:30

Networking break

11:30 - 12:20

Where to? | The next emerging markets for agri

Binyamin Ali, Justin Bruch, Bernardo Guillamon, Justin Kirchhoff, Miljan Ždrale

Farmland investment remains concentrated largely in a handful of mostly developed country markets, though structural realities dictate the asset class’ future is likely more global.  Which leads us to ask: where to next? In this session we will explore:

  • What are the next markets best-positioned for an increase in real asset-style farmland investments and why?
  • What are some of the motivations for the influx of impact and strategic investors and their influence on the market for Agri related business in the developed world?
  • What are some of the new avenues of collaboration with DFIs and which ones have been the most successful?

Moderator:
Binyamin Ali,
News Editor, Private Equity International

Speakers:
Justin Bruch,
President, Clear Frontier Ag Management
Bernardo Guillamon, Manager – Office of Outreach & Partnerships, IDB
Justin Kirchhoff, Managing Director – Head of Private Equity, Summit Agricultural Group
Miljan Ždrale, Associate Director and Regional Head of the Agribusiness, EBRD

A speaker photo for Binyamin Ali

Binyamin Ali

News Editor, Private Equity International

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A speaker photo for Justin Bruch

Justin Bruch

President, Clear Frontier Ag Management

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A speaker photo for Bernardo Guillamon

Bernardo Guillamon

Manager – Office of Outreach & Partnerships, IDB

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A speaker photo for Justin Kirchhoff

Justin Kirchhoff

Managing Director - Head of Private Equity, Summit Agricultural Group

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A speaker photo for Miljan  Ždrale

Miljan Ždrale

Associate Director and Regional Head of the Agribusiness, EBRD

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12:20 - 13:10

Water – case study | Defining’s PE role & how to assess new opportunities

Christopher Peacock, Corey Getz, Noah Sabich, Quint Shambaugh

Already integral to any conversation about agriculture anywhere, water is increasingly viewed as its own subsector, albeit one characterized by uniquely potent risk. Key topics that we will address during our case study will include:

  • Which investor types are best suited to support forward looking water investments?
  • How important is it for private fund executives to engage with quasi-public bodies that adjudicate water issues?
  • What have been SGMA’s effects on U.S. farmland markets thus far and how will the regulations shape U.S. agricultural production over the long-term?

Moderator:
Christopher Peacock, Chief Executive Officer, AQUAOSO

Speakers:
Corey Getz,
Chief Executive Officer, DIGS Associates
Noah Sabich, Managing Director, Cimbria Capital
Quint Shambaugh, Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board, DIGS Associates

A speaker photo for Christopher Peacock

Christopher Peacock

Chief Executive Officer, AQUAOSO

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A speaker photo for Corey Getz

Corey Getz

Chief Executive Officer, DIGS Associates

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A speaker photo for Noah Sabich

Noah Sabich

Managing Director, Cimbria Capital

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A speaker photo for Quint Shambaugh

Quint Shambaugh

Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board, DIGS Associates

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13:10 - 14:10

Networking luncheon and end of conference

2019 speakers

Interested in speaking at the 2019 Forum?

Please contact Joan Moh at joan.m@peimedia.com or call +1 212 796 8322 ext 157

Binyamin Ali

News Editor, Private Equity International

Tom Amis

Head of the EQ Controlled Environment Team, Equilibrium

Atish Babu

Senior Vice President, Agriculture Capital

Barry Bogseth

Managing Director – Agricultural Strategies Group, MetLife Investment Management

Greg Bohlen

Managing Partner, Union Grove Venture Partners

Justin Bruch

President, Clear Frontier Ag Management

Christopher Chapman

Managing Director, Debt, Amerra Capital

David Chattleton

Managing Partner, Tiverton Advisors

L. Richard Doelling

Director of Client Relations, Forest Investment Associates

Sean Doyle

Senior Associate, Salveo Capital

Cameron Dunn

Managing Partner, Tillridge

John Farris

President & Founder, LandFund Partners

Sarah Gal

Vice President, Callan

Rich Gammill

Managing Partner, Proterra Investment Partners

Corey Getz

Chief Executive Officer, DIGS Associates

John Goodreds

Managing Director, AGR Partners

Alec Gorynski

Vice President, Community Development and Corporate Philanthropy, First National Bank

Bernardo Guillamon

Manager – Office of Outreach & Partnerships, IDB

Robert Hagler

Associate Director, Investor Relations, New Forests

Amy Hauke

Director – Private Equity, BMO Wealth Management

Joshua Humphreys, PhD.

President and Senior Fellow, Croatan Institute

Eric Jackson

Founder & Chairman, Pipeline Foods

Kellee James

CEO, Mercaris

Chris Janiec

Americas Editor, Agri Investor

Justin Kirchhoff

Managing Director - Head of Private Equity, Summit Agricultural Group

Aaron Knewtson

Vice President - Food and Agribusiness, Compeer Financial

Stavros Koutsantonis

Managing Director, Conservation Resources

Daniel Kowalski

Vice President – Knowledge Exchange, CoBank

David LeZaks

Lead - Regenerative Food Systems, Delta Institute

Eric London

Partner, Tress Capital

Pamela G. Marrone, PhD.

Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Marrone Bio Innovations

Jim McBride

Head of Distribution - Timberland Investment Group, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group

Chris Morris

CFO, LandFund Partners

Dr. David Muth

Senior Vice President, Peoples Company

David Nicola

Founder & CEO, Blackdirt Farms

Eric O’Brien

Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fall Line Capital

Danny O’Malley

The Presiplant and Founder, Before the Butcher, Inc

Christopher Peacock

Chief Executive Officer, AQUAOSO

Viki Radden

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Honor Harvest

Anna Rath, PhD.

President, Chief Executive Officer, Vestaron

Greg Richards

Managing Director, Arable Capital Partners

Chad Rosen

Founder & CEO, Victory Hemp

Noah Sabich

Managing Director, Cimbria Capital

Ivan Saval

Managing Director – Agribusiness & Food Investment Banking, National Securities Corp.

Mark D. Schindel

Chief Financial and Investment Officer, Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT

Jim Schultz

Founder, Chairman, Open Prairie

Quint Shambaugh

Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board, DIGS Associates

Jamie Shen

Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Agricultural Investments

Ray Smith

Vice President, Investment and Business Strategy, AgLaunch

Howard Tang

Managing Director, Lighthouse Finance

Perry Vieth

Founder & CEO, Ceres Partners

Shonda Warner

Founder and Managing Partner, Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners

Craig Wichner

Managing Partner, Farmland LP

Miljan Ždrale

Associate Director and Regional Head of the Agribusiness, EBRD

Sponsorship opportunities 2019

The Agri Investor Chicago Forum will offer a unique opportunity for organizations to raise their profile by meeting with the largest gathering of global agriculture capital across two days of sessions.

For exclusive sponsorship packages for 2019, contact Jimmy Kurtovic at jimmy.k@peimedia.com or call +1 646-795-3273.

Event venue

The Agri Investor Chicago 2019 Forum hotel room block is currently sold out at The Renaissance Downtown Chicago Hotel.

To book accommodations at the prevailing rate, please visit the following link here.

1 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601

Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel