Investing in agri-food
FCC offers venture capital, with Avrio Ventures, to help develop and grow agri-food and agribusiness operations.
Direct investment
Many profitable markets are emerging that hold great potential for Canadian agri-food. In order to build and grow their businesses, customers need access to various forms of capital. Since its inception in 2002, FCC Ventures has provided over $70 million in venture capital financing to small and medium-sized businesses in these areas:
- value-added food manufacturing and processing
- development and manufacturing of agricultural equipment
- commercial processing
- businesses that support the agriculture sector
- ag biotech
In addition to our own investments, FCC has been successful in attracting other venture capital to agriculture from third party co-investors.
Fund investment
On November 1, 2006, FCC took a lead role in sponsoring Canada’s first industrial life sciences fund – Avrio Ventures Limited Partnership. This fund has now raised $75 million from various limited partners including FCC’s initial $50 million capital commitment.
The fund targets investment in growth-to-commercialization-stage businesses in three emerging sectors: industrial bio-products, food technology and nutraceutical ingredients. These investments help Canada reach its potential as a world leader in the production and processing of biomass for use in the creation of energy, functional foods and uses in human and animal health care.
Avrio Ventures manages this fund. Avrio is a separate entity from FCC, with offices in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Find out more
FCC Ventures
Rick Hoffman, VP, Finance and Venture Capital
rick.hoffman@fcc-fac.ca
Avrio Ventures Limited Partnership
Jim Taylor
info@avrioventures.com
www.avrioventures.com
FCC
Sophie MacDonald
VP, Agribusiness and Venture Capital
306-780-7477
Sophie.macdonald@fcc-fac.ca