Our sector assessment involved identifying key socioeconomic, climatic, and regulatory challenges that impacted the modernization of agriculture and the implementation of corporate farming. Expert Farmer has pinpointed the failures, successes, and lessons learned in corporate and contract farming. Additionally, our team highlighted successful farming models, including vertically integrated companies and diversified agricultural producers, along with their success factors.

On-site missions were conducted to validate remote observations through on-site assessments and stakeholder interviews. Expert Farmers have gathered updated economic and financial data and identified potential investors for future projects. Expert Farmer's findings were compiled and analyzed to refine project datasets and develop corporate and contract farming models, focusing on the regions of Sindh and Punjab.

The design phase involved creating corporate and contract farming models suitable for specific crops, taking into account local conditions, country capacities, and investor strategies. We detailed business activities, recommended farm locations, identified critical resources, determined processing facility capacities, and established crop rotations and target yields. Furthermore, we evaluated risk-return propositions, infrastructure requirements, and sustainability risks for the proposed models.

The economic viability of the farm was assessed for the short, medium, and long term. The refined models were subsequently presented by Expert Farmers to potential private investors with the IFC to promote Pakistani agriculture.

Expert Farmer as successfully completed a comprehensive project involving several key steps. Initially, we established a clear direction for the venture, emphasizing sustainable farming, eco-friendly approaches, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We appraised the current hazelnut and almond production systems in southern France, Spain, and California, specifically examining factors such as planting density and irrigation methods to adapt for this pioneer project.

During our on-site evaluations, we analyzed the potential land and soil quality for both perennial crops, such as almond trees, and large-scale crops like soy, sunflowers, barley, wheat, and alfalfa. We evaluated the existing water resources and irrigation systems, and we gathered and examined climate and soil data to confirm the site’s suitability for organic farming. We also reviewed the existing farming equipment fleet to determine its capacity to support organic and regenerative farming practices.

Our technical due diligence culminated in a thorough report summarizing our findings and recommendations. We highlighted crucial success factors and identified potential roadblocks for resolution, facilitating a seamless investment journey. We also provided insights on the land’s value, assets, and infrastructure, helping our client set a fair market price.

As part of the business plan update, Expert Farmer has developed the crop mix and rotation plan, as well as crop management strategies for both perennial and annual crops. We designed an initial farm layout, listed necessary equipment, and identified required infrastructure. Furthermore, we estimated operating expenses (OpEx) and capital expenditures (CapEx) for both perennial and annual crops. We updated the technical and economic assumptions in the business plan based on the results of the site assessment and operations planning.

Learn more about the success of GreenPods on their webpage.

Preliminary review

Expert Farmer optimized the performance of its mandate by identifying the best potential place to procure castor beans or develop its production :

• Screening of countries able to launch or develop this oil crop,
• Identification of potential large-scale project to integrate the target production,
• Shortlist of 10 best countries with detailed factsheets,
• Creation of a scoring matrix to rank the candidate countries,
• Presentation and final selection of priority countries with the client.

On-site assessment and reporting

• Investigation missions in all priority countries to confirm the results of desk studies,
• Analyze of strengths and weaknesses of the value chain in each country: production area, current & potential actors,
• Identification of major bottlenecks to overcome (production, processing, supply, logistics, storage or agricultural equipment).
• Macro and microeconomic analysis of the value chain to determinate the possible price for the client’ supplies,
• Determination of requirements for development,
• Elaboration of an action plan with dedicated actions in each country,
• Costing of development actions and possible CapEx,
• Presentation of the results and consolidation of the action plan according to the client’s strategy for validation with the steering committee and executive comity of the corporate of the overall action plan.

Crop value chain development

Implementation of the action plans according to the specificities of identified targets :

• Continuous representation of the client's interests in B2B negotiations for specific agricultural projects,
• In a South American country, lobbying of the target production toward large-scale production systems to be considered as a valuable rotation Corp,
• Setup and monitoring of an experimental platform to define the best crop husbandry plan, according to local climatic condition,
• In a developing country : integration of the production as a cash crop into a food production mix,
• Annual performance review.