Pursuing the global opportunity in food and agribusiness

Food and agribusiness is a $5 trillion industry representing 10 percent of global consumer spending, 40 percent of employment, and 30 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions. The investment potential is vast, but food-and-agribusiness investing requires a deep understanding of specific crops, geographies, and complex value chains. Many of the investment opportunities are in geographies unfamiliar to some investors, and their profitability rests not only on crop yields but also on how different parts of the value chain perform. In this article, the authors examine the main trends that will likely influence the future of food and agribusiness, identify promising investment opportunities, such as proteins in China or cotton in East Asia, and offer a view of how players might successfully pursue them.