Andrea Gruza
President & Managing Partner, Bonnefield Financial
Rising costs, succession pressures and the need for modernization are creating new challenges across the farm and agribusiness value chain. Flexible long-term financing models are helping operators access the capital they need to grow, transition and plan for the future.
Canada’s agricultural sector is undergoing significant change. Rising input costs, elevated interest rates, supply chain challenges, tariff uncertainty, and the growing cost of modernizing operations are placing pressure on farmers and agribusiness operators alike. Access to capital is increasingly a barrier across the entire value chain.
This strain is intensified by the demographic realities within the sector. With the average Canadian farmer now in their late fifties, the industry is preparing for a major succession shift. An estimated $300 billion in farmland is expected to change hands over the coming decades, and many agribusiness operators face similar transition and growth challenges. Ensuring access to stable, long-term capital is essential to supporting a competitive and resilient sector.
Growing investor interest in Canadian agriculture
The good news is that investors are taking notice. Agriculture is increasingly viewed as a sector that can provide stable, long-term returns, and Canada is recognized globally for its sophisticated operators, high-quality production, and strong resource advantages. Yet investing directly in the industry has traditionally been difficult due to its private, fragmented structure.
Flexible financing models that complement traditional debt are playing a growing role in helping operators plan for the future.
At Bonnefield Financial, we’ve built an investment approach aimed at bridging this gap — giving investors exposure to the attractive attributes of Canadian agriculture while providing farmers and agribusiness operators with capital solutions that support growth, transition and stability.
Addressing capital constraints across the value chain
Our model is designed to deploy investor capital to address long-standing financing challenges facing the industry. Through our buy-and-lease farmland approach, we provide farm operators with secure, long-term access to land while freeing up capital they can reinvest in the areas that matter most. Farmers maintain full control of their operations and can work toward regaining ownership of the land over time as their financial position evolves. For many families, this flexibility makes succession planning more achievable and less financially burdensome.
For agribusiness operators, our minority investment strategy delivers patient, long-term capital that strengthens the broader value chain — from input suppliers to processors and service providers. These businesses face their own modernization and expansion needs, and benefit from capital solutions that complement traditional lending.
Across both farm and agribusiness operations, our goal is the same: to provide flexible tools that enhance competitiveness, support transition, and enable long-term planning.
A committed partner for Canadian agriculture
As farmers and agribusinesses contend with rising costs, succession pressures, and shifting market dynamics, the need for reliable, long-term capital is becoming a defining issue for the sector. Flexible financing models that complement traditional debt are playing a growing role in helping operators plan for the future. By aligning capital with the long-term nature of agriculture, these models can help strengthen the value chain and support Canada’s position as a global agriculture leader in the years ahead.
To learn more about our approach, visit bonnefield.com.
