Sembrador (“sower/planter” in English) is Chile’s first Venture Capital (VC) Fund Manager targeting investments solely in the agricultural sector. To date, Sembrador has raised nearly US$ 80M for three funds, of which two the MIF is an investor (Agrodesarrollo and Victus). Led by Jorge Karadima, the fund has found success by in leveraging technology to improve irrigation and energy usage, generating increases in productivity while reducing financial and environmental costs. As a leader in climate-smart agriculture since 2006, Sembrador’s investments have attracted strategic acquirers from across the globe, as well as recognition by as a “Best for the World” fund by leading impact investing organizations.
Fast Facts:
- 3 funds raised: Crecimiento Agricola (2006), Agrodesarrollo (2010), and Victus (2014).
- $80M: amount raised from public and private investors, with including the MIF ($8.5M total) and CORFO (Chile’s Economic Development Agency).
- 6 of its 7: Crecimiento Agricola sold nearly its entire investment portfolio to a strategic foreign acquirer.
- US$ 5.8M: Agrodesarrollo recently doubled a return on investment from a sale of lemon plantation to the US firm Limoneira.
- 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) of climate-smart investments in production of various fruits, nuts, and truffles.
- 3,000 workers directly employed, the majority being rural women who have been able to increase household income. The investments have also generated additional indirect economic benefits by attracting lodgings and small restaurants to the area to serve the workers.
For further information on the Sembrador’s groundbreaking work to advance climate-smart agriculture through VC investments, see their feature in the April 10, 2017 edition of El Mercurio (in Spanish). To learn more about the MIF’s support of innovations in the agriculture value chain that improve productivity and reduce climate impact, click here.