Craigmore Farming

What Craigmore Farming does

Craigmore Sustainables is a New Zealand-based agricultural investment and land management company that builds and operates farming, horticulture, and forestry businesses on behalf of global wholesale capital partners. Founded in 2009 by the Elworthy and Cox families, the company manages $1.4bn NZD of assets across 39,168 hectares organized into three sectors: Farming (19 South Island dairy milking platforms producing 79 million litres of milk annually, $393m in assets), Horticulture (2,212 hectares of kiwifruit, apples and grapes, $504m in assets), and Forestry (28,463 hectares of commercial forestry, $517m in assets). The company employs 374 people as of 30 June 2025 and operates from offices in Christchurch (head office), Hastings and London, with the London office serving as the investor relations hub for international capital partners. Financial products are offered exclusively to wholesale investors under New Zealand's Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, and the UK entity (Craigmore Sustainables LLP, FRN 535871) is FCA-authorised; retail distribution in NZ, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA is explicitly excluded.

The company monetizes through a combination of direct commodity production and fund management. Revenue streams include milk sold to NZ dairy companies for processing and export, kiwifruit marketed through Zespri (including SunGold and organic varieties), apples exported to global markets, wine grapes supplied to Babich Wines and Indevin, commercial timber sold at harvest, and New Zealand Units (carbon credits) generated by forestry sequestration. Six investment vehicles generate management and performance fees on behalf of institutional and wholesale investors aligned with long-term sustainability mandates. The customer base spans two structurally different segments: international wholesale investors (capital partners) and global commodity buyers (Zespri for kiwifruit, NZ dairy processors, wine producers, timber markets).

Technology deployment is operational rather than foundational, comprising third-party IoT and AI systems — Halter cow collars, smaxtec in-pail sensors, the Flow camera-based AI backing gate, and a data-driven genetic breeding programme that improved herd genetic breeding worth from 34 in 2013 to 265 in 2024. Proprietary environmental technologies include EcoPond (effluent methane reduction of >90%) and Kowbucha probiotic trials. Craigmore participates in the DairyNZ-led Responsible Dairy Programme ($45.85m, seven-year horizon), holds FSC certification across 14 forestry estates, has been a UN PRI signatory since 2012, and has committed to net-zero dairy emissions by 2035 and 50% net GHG reduction by 2030.

Name

Craigmore Farming

Legal name

Craigmore Sustainables Group LP

Website

https://craigmore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Craigmore Sustainables is a New Zealand agricultural investment manager that builds and operates dairy farms, horticulture orchards, and commercial forestry estates on behalf of global wholesale capital partners, managing $1.4bn NZD across 39,168 hectares.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Asset Management

NAICS

Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212), Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511), Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Milk Production (Raw Milk) (AFAEACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dairy Farm Environmental Compliance & Sustainability Programs (AFAEACAM), Dairy Housing, Milking Systems & On-Farm Infrastructure Operations (AFAEACAG), Milking Parlor & Dairy Farm Support Services (Non-veterinary) (AFAEALAK)

Keywords

• Sustainable farm management
• Agricultural investment management
• Dairy farming operations
• Commercial forestry management
• Horticulture production export

Headquarters

HQ city

Hornby

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Agricultural production and export: Production and sale of dairy products (milk processed by NZ dairy companies for export), horticultural products (kiwifruit, apples, grapes for export markets), and timber/forestry products. Revenue derived from commodity sales, carbon credit sales, and timber sales at harvest.
2. Carbon credit revenue: Newly planted forests provide dual revenue stream from sale of carbon credits and timber at harvest. Forestry operations sequester CO2 and generate New Zealand Units (NZUs) for sale.
3. Timber sales: Commercial forestry operations produce timber for sale at harvest. Includes both newly established forests and existing commercial forestry.
4. Fund management fees: Management of international funds and investment vehicles for capital partners. Company generates returns through asset management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Craigmore Sustainables builds and manages dairy farming, horticulture and forestry businesses in Aotearoa New Zealand on behalf of global capital partners, operating 19 dairy milking platforms producing 79 million litres of milk annually, 28,463 hectares of commercial forestry, and 2,212 hectares of kiwifruit, apple and grape orchards. The company manages $1.4bn NZD in assets through six investment vehicles offered exclusively to wholesale investors.

Product overview

Craigmore Sustainables operates as an integrated agricultural investment and land management company managing farms, orchards, and forestry across New Zealand for global capital partners. The business is structured around three core sectors: Dairy Farming (19 milking platforms, 79 million litres of milk annually, $393m assets), Forestry (35 properties, 28,463ha commercial forestry, $517m assets), and Horticulture (2,212ha of kiwifruit, apples and grapes, $504m assets). Supporting sub-offerings include FSC-certified forestry estates, the Responsible Dairy industry programme, PF Olsen-managed forest operations, EcoPond methane reduction technology, Kowbucha probiotic trials, and Lincoln University-linked agricultural scholarships. Total assets under management stand at $1.4bn NZD across 39,168 hectares.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dairy Farming Operations Craigmore's most mature business segment, encompassing 19 South Island milking platforms producing over 79 million litres of milk annually from 15,233 cows. Includes dairy cow breeding, milk production, and sustainability-focused operational trials targeting net-zero emissions by 2035. Milk is processed by NZ dairy companies for global export.
• Commercial Forestry Manages 35 properties with 28,463 hectares of commercial forestry plus 4,250 hectares of new plantings in 2024/25. Delivers dual revenue from carbon credit sales and timber at harvest, with native planting programmes and FSC-certified estates. Carbon forestry sequestered 96,063 tonnes CO2e in 2024/25.
• Horticulture (Kiwifruit, Apples, Grapes) Permanent crop horticulture portfolio of 2,212 hectares including organic and conventional gold and red kiwifruit (34% organic; 14% of NZ organic gold kiwifruit production), apples (9,403 tonnes in 2023/24) and grapes (2,980 tonnes in 2023/24) sold through export channels including Zespri for kiwifruit and New Zealand wine producers.
• Wholesale Investor Funds Six investment vehicles offered exclusively to wholesale investors under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (NZ) and FCA regulation (UK). Total $1.4bn NZD assets under management deployed across farming, horticulture and forestry operations. Distributed through Craigmore's London-based investor relations team and the Syndex investor portal.
• Carbon Credits (NZUs) Forestry operations sequester CO2 and generate New Zealand Units (NZUs) for sale in carbon markets, providing a revenue stream alongside timber at harvest.
• Sunpark Apple Orchard New 84-hectare premium apple orchard in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne region) converted from beef farming to commercial apple production, with first harvest in March 2026 producing Rockit and A1 varieties.
• Cat Creek Vineyard Marlborough vineyard developed from bare land between 2022 and 2026 with first commercial harvest in 2026 yielding approximately 126 tonnes of Sauvignon Blanc grapes supplied to Babich Wines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in net GHG emissions by 2030
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DairyNZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraigmore Sustainables is a participant in the Responsible Dairy project led by DairyNZ, a seven-year programme with $45.85 million funding from government and industry sources to address NZ dairy sector productivity plateau.
• Dairy HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairy Holdings is participating in the Responsible Dairy project alongside Craigmore Sustainables, DairyNZ, and other industry partners.
• PāmucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPāmu (the commercial name for Landcorp Farming Ltd) is participating in the Responsible Dairy project as a partner farm operator.
• Fertiliser Association of New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association participating in Responsible Dairy project to support sustainable dairy sector development.
• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI is providing government funding and oversight for the Responsible Dairy project alongside DairyNZ.
• Babich WinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBabich Wines is Craigmore's winemaking partner in Marlborough, receiving Sauvignon Blanc from Boundary Creek vineyard and Cat Creek grapes.
• IndevincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndevin is the winemaker in Hawke's Bay receiving Pinot Gris from Craigmore's Springhill Vineyard, producing wines under Esk Valley and Leftfield brands.
• ZespricoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCraigmore participates in Zespri's carbon neutral trial for kiwifruit production. Zespri is the marketing entity for New Zealand kiwifruit exports.
• Plant and Food ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlant and Food Research conducted a four-year biodiversity study at Craigmore's Wiroa kiwifruit orchard to understand impact of land use change from pasture to kiwifruit.
• Lincoln UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Lincoln University on EcoPond technology validation, installing testing columns in effluent ponds.
• Lincoln UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln University partners with Craigmore on farming scholarships and research opportunities.
• PF Olsen LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPF Olsen is Craigmore's forest manager, running Professional Operators Days for ATV/LUV safety training and managing forestry operations including FSC certification.
• Farman Turkington Forestry (FTF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFTF received FSC certification for Craigmore forests in Wairarapa region, managing sustainable forest operations.
• Logic Forest Services LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned to complete detailed afforestation plan for Glen Tui Forest in collaboration with Gisborne District Council.
• Lincoln UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraigmore Sustainables Farming Scholarship partnership with Lincoln University established 2014 for postgraduate agricultural research.
• Agraforum NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Agraforum NZ and soil expert Allan Piercy for validation of EnviroCal soil treatment approach at Wairepo Yellow dairy farm.

Scale indicators30 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Roc Partners: Australian agricultural and natural capital investment manager with broader sector coverage including permanent crops, livestock and water. Larger incumbent platform but overlapping investment focus and wholesale investor client base.
• Manulife Investment Management - Timberland and Agriculture: Large global timberland and agriculture investor. A broader incumbent in the same sustainable land-asset space, with institutional scale that competes for ESG-mandate capital flowing into NZ forestry and farmland.

Direct peers

• MyFarm Investments: NZ-based agricultural investment manager that syndicates and manages farms, horticulture and dairy assets for wholesale investors. Directly comparable given Craigmore's similar NZ fund vehicle structure, mixed farming/orchard/forestry portfolios, and focus on wholesale investor products.
• Rural Funds Management (RFM): Australian-listed agricultural fund manager focused on cattle, cropping and water assets, with investment vehicles sold to wholesale investors. Directly comparable investment-platform and asset-management model, though predominantly Australian geography rather than NZ.
• FarmRight: NZ rural investment management business operating dairy, drystock and cropping syndicates. Directly comparable in sector mix and NZ wholesale investor orientation, with similar risk-return profile across livestock and dairy platforms.
• New Forests: Australia and NZ-based forestry and natural capital investment manager. Operates institutional funds investing in sustainable commercial forestry and land-use assets, closely comparable to Craigmore's forestry-led fund model and FSC-certified estate approach.

Others

• Zespri International: NZ kiwifruit marketing and export monopoly that channels Craigmore's organic SunGold production to global markets. A channel partner and customer rather than direct competitor, but a defining counterparty for Craigmore's horticulture segment.
• Fonterra Cooperative Group: NZ dairy cooperative that processes and exports milk produced by Craigmore dairy farms. Industry-side counterpart rather than competitor - a critical downstream customer and partner in the Responsible Dairy Programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CraigmoreSustainables
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/craigmore-sustainables

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Craigmore Farming