WHO WE ARE

Strengthening the Agricultural Sector

Developing relationships with the most innovative and respected international agriculture companies, domestic and foreign government agencies, not-for-profits/ non-governmental organizations and institutional investors.

How it Began

Burlington Capital, formerly known as America First Companies, entered the international agriculture arena in 1975, thanks to a pivotal introduction by then-USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz. He connected Michael Yanney, Burlington Capital’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus, with former Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin.  Ambassador Dobrynin wanted to learn more about American Agriculture, specifically the Midwest. At the time, Mr. Yanney was primarily involved in banking through the ownership of rural banks in Iowa and Nebraska.  Nonetheless, his network of farmers and other rural bankers enabled him to connect with some of the largest and best farmers in Nebraska and Iowa.

Mr. Yanney invited Ambassador Dobrynin to tour showcase farms in Nebraska and Iowa, highlighting the Midwest’s agricultural strength. Impressed by what they saw, the Soviets invited Mr. Yanney to the USSR to provide recommendations for improving Soviet agriculture. This led to Burlington Capital’s first international agriculture project—a soybean production initiative in Krasnodar, Russia, and Crimea, Ukraine. This initial venture paved the way for Burlington Capital’s involvement in over 40 agricultural projects across the former Soviet Union, including crop production, irrigation systems, and equipment procurement.

International Agriculture Fund
Private investment funds

Agribusiness Partners International

After the Iron Curtain fell, and the region began to stabilize as independent countries, Mike Yanney saw an investment opportunity for Burlington Capital. With the help of the US Government Agency OPIC, they created a fund for basic agricultural development. This fund, named Agribusiness Partners International (API), received a $100 million investment guarantee.  Simultaneously, Bob Peyton, former President of ConAgra International Eastern Europe and FSU, joined the company. A top-notch team of investment professionals was hired, and a Moscow office was established to manage the investment program. After evaluating over 600 opportunities, the fund invested in eight agribusiness and food processing companies.

In 1998, a severe economic crisis and currency devaluation hit the region, with the Russian ruble losing 75% of its value. API thrived because it had avoided hard currency debt for its portfolio companies and primarily invested in Ruble-based businesses, preventing significant imbalances post-devaluation. In June 2004, the fund refinanced its OPIC debt and returned over 100% of the initial capital investment to OPIC-insured investors. Out of the $100 million initial investment, $75 million was backed by OPIC protection, and the gross IRR on unprotected equity stood at an impressive 37%. The API fund successfully exited all businesses by 2007.

Burlington Capital Ag-Venture

In 2021, Burlington Capital partnered with Invest Nebraska to establish Burlington Capital Ag-Venture (BCAV). Investing in seed stage AgTech start-ups looking to solve problems for Midwest producers, BCAV worked with teams developing the newest and most innovative technology-driven solutions to improve and redefine the current agriculture ecosystem. To maintain this momentum and focus, the partners in BC Ag-Venture decided to transfer the management of the Fund from Burlington Capital to Michael Jung and the Fund’s Management team.  The Fund now operates as Grit Road Partners.

International Farm Management
farm management
  • Manulife Farmland Services Canada (MFSC), focused on identifying quality farmland, facilitating the acquisition and management of these assets for MANULIFE. MFSC was a joint venture between Burlington Capital, MANULIFE, and Hancock Natural Resource Group. In 2020, Manulife acquired Burlington’s stake in the company
  • Past Investment analysis on a Kaliningrad, Russia farming operation, primarily focusing on international markets in Eastern Europe.
  • In 2015, we identified a growing demand for high oleic oil in Europe. Teaming up with DOW AGRO, we expanded High Oleic Sunflower oil production in Eastern Europe. We dedicated 7,500 hectares of land in Moldova and Romania for growing DOW AGRO’s HO Sunflowers. Guiding first-time HO farmers, managing crops, and partnering with local crush companies for processing, we capitalized on a $200 premium over traditional sunflower oil. Additionally, we facilitated off-take contracts for the oil.
Food for Progress
USDA and USAID Food Aid Programs

For 25 years, Cantera Partners has been a trusted ally for NGOs and PVOs, implementing USDA Food for Progress and USAID Food for Peace programs. With expertise in food aid monetization, Cantera has managed over $345 million in USDA and USAID commodities, totaling more than 700,000 metric tons worldwide. Dedicated to global food security, we deliver impactful, sustainable solutions through these vital programs.

International Agriculture Projects
Agricultural Projects
  • Development of a 10,000 hectare soybean farm in the Crimea, Krasnodar and Stavropol region
  • Development of a cranberry farm in Pinsk.
  • Worked with a company in the development of an irrigation equipment manufacturing plant in Rostov-na-Donu.
  • Assisted a company in licensing the manufacture of soybean harvesting equipment to the Ministry of Agriculture of the former Soviet Union.
  • Principal leader in a major wheat production project coordinated with several Western European agribusiness corporations.

Our International Agribusiness Division

Cantera Partners

Committed to uniting the public and private sectors to develop partnerships that modernize and enhance agricultural industries in emerging markets.

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