Farmland is an interesting asset class that has been gaining the attention of institutional buyers. The logic is pretty simple: No new farmland is being created. In fact, farmland is often repurposed for homes and other types of real estate development.
Real estate investment trust (REIT) Farmland Partners (NYSE: FPI) is looking to take advantage of this scarcity -- only this REIT's story isn't quite so simple.
Farmland Partners estimates that there's about $2.5 trillion worth of farmland in the U.S., a valuation that's on par with the rental-apartment market. Of that amount, only about 1% of farmland is owned by institutions like pension funds, versus 5% for apartments. So there's material opportunity for growth here.
For further details see:
This Farm REIT Just Made a Giant Change