Van Lanschot Kempen, an international institutional investor specialising in natural capital and real asset strategies, has completed the acquisition of the company owning a unique 400-hectare agricultural asset in Faro do Alentejo, Beja.
This irrigated olive grove is located next to the Alqueva reservoir and within its irrigation perimeter, a strategic location with water availability that makes the asset particularly attractive for institutional strategies focused on capital preservation, income stability and long-term sustainability.
The transaction was structured through the sale of the company holding the asset, enabling efficient execution aligned with the buyer’s strategic objectives. CBRE acted as lead advisor on the sale, managing the process and coordinating a multidisciplinary team of professionals from different areas of expertise and regions, supported by its Iberian platform and agribusiness specialisation.
“This transaction strengthens our Rio de Azeite platform and enables us to implement regenerative and environmentally responsible farming practices, in line with an investment model that prioritises sustainability, environmental impact and production resilience”, noted Richard Jacobs, Head of Farmland Investments at Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management.
Manuel Valadas Albuquerque, Head of Agribusiness for Southern Europe at CBRE, added that “this transaction highlights the maturity that Iberian agribusiness is achieving as a destination for institutional capital. The combination of high-quality agricultural assets, established irrigation infrastructure such as Alqueva, and a clear focus on sustainability positions the Iberian Peninsula at the international forefront for investors specialising in natural capital and, increasingly, for generalist investors as well”.
Interest in agribusiness across Iberian Peninsula is growing
According to CBRE, the agribusiness sector in the Iberian Peninsula attracted €1.2 billion in institutional investment, 50% more than in the previous year. The market was led by land purchase and sale transactions (around €600 million), while debt and refinancing structures reached €300 million and M&A transactions totalled a further €300 million.
This represents a stabilisation of the market “at solid levels”. Following the €1.2 billion invested in 2022, the market reached an exceptional peak of €2.2 billion in 2023. The consultancy now anticipates higher levels of visibility in 2026 and more sustained activity, following a period of moderation in 2024 and the recovery of 2025.
“In recent years, the agricultural sector has become progressively more professionalised, facilitating the entry of institutional investors.” Alongside this, “the growing interest from the investment community is based both on the attractive returns the sector offers and on the possibility of developing diversified portfolios, reducing volatility and improving the risk/return ratio of investments”.
