AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada

What AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada does

Crescero Natural Capital Inc. (formerly AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada Inc.) is a privately held farmland asset management firm headquartered in Chatham, Ontario, with a secondary office in Toronto. Founded in 2018 by Kent Willmore, the firm acquires, optimizes, manages, and protects Canadian farmland on behalf of investors through a series of private investment funds — four vehicles in total, beginning with the AGinvest Farmland One Fund and followed by three subsequent funds. The firm executes a six-step underwriting process culminating in Investment Committee unanimous approval and retains land in agricultural production via long-term leases with farm operators. Crescero serves two primary customer segments: accredited and institutional investors seeking exposure to farmland as an uncorrelated, inflation-hedging tangible asset, and Canadian farm families seeking liquidity, succession planning, or operational expansion through sale-leaseback and shared-equity arrangements.

The firm does not operate a proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI-driven system; its competitive methodology rests on agricultural expertise, on-the-ground farm assessment, and active farmland optimization spanning soil health, water management, biodiversity enhancement, tile drainage, and ancillary revenue (wind/solar leases). Revenue is derived from management fees and performance-related returns generated through farmland appreciation and lease income. Distribution is conducted exclusively through the exempt market channel via Belco Private Capital Inc., with Oliver Wolf registered as the dealing representative. The firm also convenes the annual Canadian Agriculture Investment Forum, launched October 1, 2026 at The National Club, Toronto, with 4-H Canada as the designated charity beneficiary.

Leadership combines agricultural and institutional asset management pedigree: CEO Kent Willmore (30+ years in agriculture), CFO Harsh Damani (ex-Invesco, $600B+ AUM), Board Chair Derek Brodersen (former CIO of Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund, 30+ years institutional governance), Director Brian D'Costa (former Global Head of Fixed Income at CIBC), and Director William Loucks (BSc Agriculture, University of Guelph; retired Collins Barrow Managing Partner). Operating geography is currently Ontario-only, though the national branding, forum, and institutional positioning signal intent to broaden reach.

Name

AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada

Legal name

Crescero Natural Capital Inc.

Website

https://crescero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Crescero Natural Capital Inc., formerly AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada, is a Chatham, Ontario-based farmland asset management firm that acquires, optimizes, and manages Canadian farmland on behalf of accredited investors and farm families through four private investment funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmland Asset Management

NAICS

Farm Management Services (115116), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural Resources Funds (Timberland, Farmland, Minerals) (FSANAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural Resources — Farmland & Agriculture (FSAAAKAI), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG)

Keywords

• Farmland investment
• Asset management
• Agricultural investing
• Natural capital
• Exempt market funds

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatham

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Farmland Asset Management Fees: Crescero generates revenue by managing farmland assets on behalf of investors through pooled investment funds. The firm has established four farmland funds since 2018, including the AGinvest Farmland One Fund launched in 2018 and three subsequent funds, all delivering returns for investors and farm families. Revenue is derived from management fees and performance-related returns generated through farmland appreciation, lease income from farming operators, and land optimization initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Crescero Natural Capital acquires, optimizes, manages, and protects Canadian farmland on behalf of investors through pooled investment funds. The firm executes a six-step underwriting process and partners with farm families through long-term leasing arrangements, enabling investors to access off-market Ontario farmland while providing farm families with liquidity and succession planning solutions. The firm has established four farmland funds since 2018, beginning with the AGinvest Farmland One Fund.

Product overview

Crescero Natural Capital (formerly AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada Inc.) operates a multi-fund farmland asset management platform. The core offering is farmland investment and active asset management — acquiring, optimizing, managing, and protecting Canadian farmland — structured through four investment funds (starting with the AGinvest Farmland One Fund in 2018). Farmers lease back the land, enabling farm family succession and next-generation operator access. Ancillary offerings include farmland optimization services (soil health, water management, infrastructure upgrades), financial optimization (non-core asset liquidation, ancillary land leasing for renewable energy), and the annual Canadian Agriculture Investment Forum. The firm does not operate a software platform or technology product with public-facing APIs or integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AGinvest Farmland One Fund The inaugural farmland investment fund launched in 2018 by AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada (now Crescero Natural Capital), offering accredited investors exclusive access to Ontario's fertile and productive farmland through pooled investment structure. The fund delivered outstanding results for both investors and farm families.
• Crescero Farmland Investment Funds (Fund 2, 3, and 4) Three additional farmland investment funds established after the AGinvest Farmland One Fund, all following the same acquisition, optimization, and leasing model, delivering results for investors and farm families. All funds are distributed through Belco Private Capital Inc. as exempt market offerings.
• Farmland Optimization Services Active farmland optimization through soil health monitoring and improvement (soil testing, targeted nutrient amendments, cover cropping, reduced tillage), water management (tile drainage systems, irrigation ponds, buffer strips), and farm efficiency enhancements (field consolidation, access points, removal of dilapidated structures). Optimization also includes financial optimization through liquidation of non-core assets and leasing land for ancillary revenue such as wind turbines and solar units.
• Succession Planning Solutions for Farm Families Alternative capital solutions including sale-leaseback arrangements, shared-equity partnerships, and joint ventures to help retiring farmers unlock equity while continuing farm operations, and to empower the next generation of producers to modernize and expand without the full capital burden of land ownership.
• Farmland Asset Management Platform End-to-end farmland asset management service that acquires, optimizes, manages, and protects Canadian farmland on behalf of investors. The platform executes a six-step underwriting process including pipeline curation, opportunity assessment, on-site farm visits, portfolio fit analysis, Investment Committee review, and legal due diligence. Land is retained in agricultural production through long-term leasing arrangements with qualified farm operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ontario farmland has delivered approximately 8.5% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) since 1950, excluding income from leasing or farming. A $100,000 investment in 1950 would have grown to over $41 million by end of 2023.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 4-H CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 20264-H Canada is the designated charity beneficiary of the Canadian Agriculture Investment Forum 2026. Crescero's inaugural forum supports 4-H Canada, a national network invested in building the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers in Canadian agriculture. Supporting 4-H creates meaningful opportunities for youth to discover their potential and strengthen rural communities.
• Belco Private Capital Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2026Belco Private Capital Inc. serves as Crescero's retained exempt market dealer, enabling the distribution of prospectus-exempt fund interests to qualified investors. Oliver Wolf is registered as a dealing representative with Belco Private Capital, combining technical knowledge with practical experience to support Crescero's growth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gladstone Land Corporation: US publicly-traded farmland REIT that owns and leases farmland across multiple US states. Comparable business model of acquiring farmland and leasing to farm operators; differs in being US-focused and a public REIT rather than Canadian private funds.
• Hancock Agricultural Investment Group: One of North America's largest institutional farmland managers (Manulife subsidiary), managing diversified farmland portfolios across the US, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. Comparable as a large-scale, institutional-grade farmland asset manager; broader geography and deeper resources than Crescero.
• Nuveen Natural Capital: TIAA's natural capital platform (formerly GreenWood Resources / Westchester) investing in timberland, farmland, and natural assets globally. Comparable as an institutional natural capital manager; substantially larger and broader in scope than Crescero's Canadian farmland focus.
• Westchester Group Investment Advisors: One of the largest US-based farmland investment managers (TIAA subsidiary), managing farmland across the US, Australia, and elsewhere. Comparable as an institutional farmland asset manager with active management capabilities; broader global footprint than Crescero.
• Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management: Global farmland investment manager (Macquarie Asset Management) operating multiple vintages of agricultural funds across Australia, the Americas, and other regions. Comparable as a multi-fund institutional farmland manager; materially larger and more globally diversified than Crescero.

Emerging players

• Farmland LP: US-focused farmland fund manager operating two value-add farmland funds with an organic/regenerative agriculture emphasis. Comparable as a farmland asset manager that actively optimizes assets rather than holding passively, though focused on US rather than Canadian farmland.

Direct peers

• Bonnefield Financial: Canada's largest dedicated farmland investment manager, managing Canadian farmland through pooled funds for institutional and high-net-worth investors. Directly comparable as a Canadian farmland asset manager using a sale-leaseback model with farm families across multiple provinces.
• Area One Farms: Canadian farmland private equity firm that partners with established farm operators through equity partnerships and succession structures. Highly comparable business model serving Canadian farm families and institutional investors with capital, in contrast to traditional debt-financed farm expansion.
• Assiniboia Capital Corp: Manages the Assiniboia Farmland Limited Partnership and SKAGEN m² funds, providing Canadian farmland exposure to investors. Closely comparable as a Canadian-focused farmland fund manager pooling capital for institutional and retail-eligible investment vehicles.
• Verdex Capital (formerly Heatherington & Company): Canadian farmland investment and asset management firm operating pooled farmland funds in Eastern Canada. Directly comparable as a regional Canadian farmland asset manager working with farm families on succession and capital solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crescero-natural-capital
• Xx.com/AGInvestCanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada