The Quebec investor takes a minority stake in the manager as part of an initial A$330 million package
La Caisse will commit A$300m in equity to a new platform investing in Australian permanent horticulture, and take a minority stake in the platform's manager, GO.FARM.
The Quebec-based investor, formerly CDPQ, made the pledge as part of an initial A$330m equity package that includes a further A$30m from GO.FARM, the two organizations said.
The partnership will target a diversified portfolio of irrigated permanent crops across Australia, according to the announcement.
La Caisse said it selected GO.FARM for its approach to responsible agriculture and its ability to originate, develop and operate agricultural assets on the ground.
Liam Lenaghan founded GO.FARM in 2013, and the manager now oversees roughly A$1.6bn in assets.
The firm converts underused land and water into large-scale permanent horticulture, GO.FARM said, with an emphasis on water efficiency, climate-smart systems and critical infrastructure.
Emmanuel Jaclot, executive vice-president and head of infrastructure and sustainability at La Caisse, tied the move to the country's resource base and export markets.
Australia combines "world-class agricultural resources" with export markets and land transformation opportunities, he said in the announcement, and La Caisse is backing an established local operator focused on responsible agriculture.
For Lenaghan, the arrangement signals a shift in how institutional money views the sector.
“This partnership is built on alignment, not just capital,” the founder and managing director said.
He added that access to investment-grade farmland remains constrained even as global institutions seek exposure, and that the mandate “reflects the growing maturity of Australian agriculture as an institutional asset class.”
According to the companies, the deal builds on GO.FARM's existing relationships with domestic institutional investors, including Australian Retirement Trust, as well as Australian family offices and high-net-worth backers.
La Caisse said the partnership adds to its sustainable land management presence in the country.
The announcement lands as large investors increase their focus on real assets linked to food production, natural capital and climate resilience, framing the tie-up as a long-term effort to build agricultural investment platforms in Australia.
