SHANE BODIAM, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
In the middle of an 8,000-acre pecan orchard in Arizona, I asked the farm manager how he tracks the health of individual trees at such a scale. “We know every tree. And we know two of them are dying.”
Operational precision symbolised everything I learned during our US trip in May – the power of detail, ownership, and long-term thinking. I joined a Family Office-hosted delegation to share how Impact Ag Australia leads in natural capital and nature-positive asset management. But I came home with just as much as I gave: insights into water strategy, precision farming, and the kind of partnerships that turn ideas into action.
BUILDING RESILIENCE BELOW THE SURFACE IN CALIFORNIA
California’s Central Valley, which produces 98% of the world’s almonds, is implementing water reforms that could reshape food production – rippling across global supply chains, and creating opportunities for Australian markets and investors.
RRG Capital Management’s water banking project is a prime example. By investing in ‘leaky’ reservoirs (in the right geology and soils) they recharge aquifers rather than build new dams, which in California’s hot sun can easily lose a foot of water per day to evaporation.
It’s water as an underground savings account; an elegant, scalable model that delivers both resilience and value. And we’re already applying these insights to a natural capital project on a South Australian almond orchard.
LESSONS FROM 8,000 ACRES OF PECANS
Spanning Arizona and New Mexico, Green Valley Pecans was unlike any orchard I’ve ever seen. At this scale, you’d expect untended pockets of stress, or at least broken branches. But the team knows every tree in that vast orchard. And that level of care, supported by expert irrigation management and advanced pruning techniques, means every tree thrives.
Their processing and traceability systems sharpened our vision for the next phase of our Queensland pecan development, from facility design to value-add opportunities.
But beyond the extraordinary precision of the operation, I was struck by the ecosystem value they’ve built. Beyond the orchard’s boundaries is desert, but inside, a rich ecosystem thrives – deer grazing, wild turkeys dancing, and pollinators at work. This isn’t just agriculture. It’s an economy and a community risen out of the harshest of environments, and sustained through thoughtful land and water management.
RELATIONSHIPS THAT UNLOCK MOMENTUM
The trip ended at Mossy Pond Lodge in Georgia, where stakeholders from agriculture, timber, and renewables came together. Learning from other asset managers in the strategy sessions was valuable, but the real breakthroughs came on the sidelines – in sharing a story and a laugh.
Relationships are operational leverage. Trust accelerates decision-making, enables hard conversations, opens a safe space to explore unconventional ideas, and moves us forward faster. This experience wasn’t just about building networks; it was about forging an ecosystem of collaboration that will deliver lasting value to our investors, partners, and advisory clients.
KEY LESSONS WE’RE BRINGING HOME
Key lessons we’re bringing home
- Water must be treated as a bankable asset: California’s water banking model shows how we can reimagine infrastructure to build resilience and long-term value.
- Macro reforms reshape global markets: Central Valley’s water policy will impact global almond supply. Australian producers must anticipate and position early to capture value.
- Precision drives premium returns: Horticulture’s tree-by-tree focus offers a blueprint for profitability and supply chain trust – a model broadacre farming can emulate through people, place-based solutions, and relentless attention to detail.
- Relationships are strategic assets: Global partnerships don’t just share knowledge. They unlock capital flows, accelerate innovation, and create collective momentum.
Australia may lead in natural capital, but true leadership means staying open: learning, adapting, and evolving. The insights we’ve brought home will shape how we design the next generation of resilient, investable landscapes.
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