We have built out our experience the way our clients live it, by sector. Featured below are six of the 10+ agricultural value chains we work across. In each one we work across the lifecycle, from establishing a venture to realising its value.
Flowers, fresh produce and high-value export horticulture.
02Perennial tree crops, estates and integrated forestry.
03Arable production, mechanised farming and structured trade.
04Production, integration and offtake.
05Storage, value addition and processing plant.
06Seed, crop inputs, equipment, laboratories and advisory.
From coffee and macadamia to aquaculture and beyond, our work extends well past the six shown here. Ask about your sector →
Few sectors reward precision like cut flowers and fresh produce, and few punish a weak hand more sharply. Margins turn on yield, grade, freight and the cold chain holding from greenhouse to auction floor, while direct market access depends on certification and reliable airfreight. We advise growers, exporter groups and investors across the full arc of a floriculture or horticulture business, from a greenfield farm to a consolidated group.
Production and commercial due diligence for a private equity buyer, assessing yields, cost structures, operational systems and opportunities to improve performance.
OUTCOME: A clear view of operational risks and value-creation opportunities ahead of acquisitionOn-site assessment of 21 farming units, reviewing farm infrastructure, agronomic practices, production capability and the ability to supply consistently and safely.
OUTCOME: Clear go/no-go recommendations on farm viability and the areas needing further agronomic supportDiagnostic review of a leading fruit, vegetable and herb business, assessing its market position, operations and strategic options for the next phase of growth.
OUTCOME: A growth strategy grounded in the operational and commercial realities of the business
Plantation and agro-forestry assets are built over decades, not seasons. The economics are set early, in the choice of land, the suitability of soil and water, and the varieties and spacing a business will live with for twenty years or more. Land tenure, out-grower relationships and the long road to first commercial yield make disciplined groundwork and patient capital essential. We help investors and operators choose the right ground, build the plan, integrate processing and ultimately realise value.
Assessment of the proposed site and development requirements for a 300 hectare avocado plantation, translating the production concept into a structured plan for establishment and growth.
OUTCOME: A clear development pathway from concept to commercial operationSite, agronomy and off-taker assessment for a new 340 hectare macadamia estate, developed into a commercial strategy and a costed plan to first yield.
OUTCOME: A costed development plan from establishment to commercial yieldIndependent assessment of an established 135 hectare estate and its future development potential, working with management to determine the most appropriate direction for the farm.
OUTCOME: A long-term development strategy grounded in the existing operations and production potential
Row-crop agriculture in Africa is driven by strong, growing demand, as the continent works to replace imported wheat, edible oils and animal feed with local production. But margins are thin, mechanisation is limited and post-harvest losses are high. The businesses that win are those that get the production system right, aggregate reliably, and connect to structured markets and finance. We work with commercial farms, aggregators and processors from the first assessment of land and water suitability through to the trade and finance structures that make volume profitable.
Technical, agronomic, market, commercial, social and environmental assessment of a proposed large-scale operation spanning groundnuts, sorghum, beans, sunflower, sesame, maize and wheat.
OUTCOME: A clear view of the production systems, markets and operating requirements needed to establish the venture at scaleOn-site commercial and technical assessment of a large-scale row-crop operation, reviewing production systems, management capability, operating performance and future viability.
OUTCOME: An independent view of operational performance, key risks and opportunities to strengthen the businessScreening of 97 crops for a proposed 5,000 hectare agricultural development, followed by detailed assessment of the shortlisted crops, their value chains, markets and potential partners.
OUTCOME: Prioritised crop and value-chain opportunities for the proposed development
Returns in beef, dairy, poultry and fish are driven by feed conversion, genetics, biosecurity and the cold chain, and by how well a business integrates breeding, feed and processing. Feed costs and disease risk leave little room for error. We help business owners and investors structure these ventures, sharpen the technical model and secure the capital to build them.
Detailed assessment of an established beef operation to identify opportunities to strengthen production, management and commercial performance.
OUTCOME: A board-level strategy to improve production, commercial viability and profitabilityStructuring of an integrated pig, poultry and crop operation, aligning breeding, feed and processing, with a performance framework to hold the build to plan as it scaled.
OUTCOME: An integrated operating plan and performance system that held the venture to plan as it grewTechnical, operational and market assessment of a proposed dairy processing operation, covering processing requirements, equipment considerations and route-to-market.
OUTCOME: A practical development plan for a commercially sustainable dairy processing business
Processing is where margin is captured, and where capital is most easily lost. A plant that is over-built for its catchment, under-fed on supply or built around the wrong technology becomes a fixed cost that the whole business carries. Our depth is in the judgement around the build: advising owners and investors on the right process and technology, checking that the design fits the commercial case, and guiding the equipment and capex decisions so the plant is sized to real supply and real demand. Our role is the independent commercial and technical advice that de-risks those decisions.
Engineering design and equipment procurement for a grain storage and handling facility: specifying the cleaning, drying, storage and handling systems, then leading equipment selection and vendor procurement, with quality control, traceability and throughput sized to real market demand.
OUTCOME: A facility engineered and procured to match real throughput, ready to build and fundAssessment of farming and processing opportunities across cassava, plantain and maize, covering production systems, processing technologies, markets and commercially viable operating models.
OUTCOME: Defined opportunities for commercially viable farming and processing across the three value chainsCold-chain and agro-logistics engineering expertise for a major produce consolidation centre and dry port, shaping the facility and its master plan.
OUTCOME: Technical inputs that shaped a national agro-logistics hub
The businesses that supply African agriculture, seed, crop protection, irrigation, laboratories and advisory services, sit on strong structural demand but carry real working-capital intensity and depend on distribution reach that is expensive to build. Growth and credibility with investors come from a clear route to scale and a balance sheet that can fund the season. We help input and service businesses professionalise, raise capital and prepare for shareholder change.
Review of a specialist foundation-seed company's business model, market positioning and future shareholder structure, working with management, the board and sector stakeholders to define its next stage of development.
OUTCOME: A clearer strategic direction for growth and future ownershipDetailed review of order fulfilment, logistics, customer experience and product quality for an agricultural inputs and agro-dealer platform, identifying operational bottlenecks and opportunities to improve performance.
OUTCOME: Redesigned processes, SOPs, service standards and quality-control protocols to support growthAdvisory to an established tractor and farm-implements supplier, combining a deep read of the business and sector with buyer identification, due diligence, negotiation and transaction execution.
OUTCOME: A structured process connecting an established equipment business with strategic buyersAssignments delivered across twelve African markets and more than ten value chains.
IFC
Swedfund
DFC
Gatsby Africa
JICA
AGRA
FSD Kenya
Common Fund for Commodities
EXEO Capital
MissioInvest
CropNuts
Marginpar
Shamba Pride
Stokman Rozen KenyaIFCSwedfundDFCGatsby AfricaJICAAGRAFSD KenyaCommon Fund for CommoditiesEXEO CapitalMissioInvestCropNutsMarginparShamba PrideStokman Rozen Kenya