RLP Sarasin Food & Agriculture Opportunities Pn
SRI Style:
Sustainability Tilt
SDR Labelling:
-
Product:
Pension
Fund Region:
Global
Fund Asset Type:
Equity
Launch Date:
15/02/2013
Last Amended:
Jul 2025
Dialshifter (
):
Fund Size:
£1.39m
(as at: 31/07/2023)
ISIN:
GB00B83TZS26
Objectives:
The Fund seeks to provide growth (through increases in investment value and income) over a rolling five-year period through investment in companies from around the world which have exposure to food and agriculture sectors.
Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:
The Fund is differentiated from other food and agricultural strategies through the level of diversification both along the food and agriculture value chain and geographically. We believe that the value of the whole food economy is expanding and therefore invest across the breadth of the food and agricultural spectrum, “from field to fork”. Within this spectrum, we use our thematic process to identify robust and enduring growth trends and companies that ought to benefit. The resulting portfolio aims to find pockets within the food economy where value is migrating towards and where the addressable market is growing faster than average. We invest in companies that can tap into those expanding profit pools and can defend their competitive position via scale, technology, network effects, or intellectual property. This should enable these companies to find margin expansion opportunities, amplifying earnings growth potential, and helping to generate attractive returns on capital.
Primary fund last amended:
Jul 2025
Information directly from fund manager.
Fund Filters
Sustainability - General
Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance)
Environmental - General
Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Find funds that have a written policy or theme on waste management - typically a view to encouraging higher levels of recycling and better efficiency / reducing waste.
Funds that are reviewing or encouraging companies to manage down the overuse of plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). These funds will typically aim to encourage the use of alternative materials, but are unlikely to exclude companies purely on the basis of their use of plastics. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Nature & Biodiversity
Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity
Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have policies in place explaining that they avoid companies involved in illegal and/or unsustainable deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other concerns. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Fund has a responsible palm oil policy which is likely to focus on the producers of palm oil and deforestation issues with a view to informing investment decisions (and / or engagement) to support and encourage high standards.
Fund has a sustainable fisheries policy that will inform where it can and can not invest
Climate Change & Energy
Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.
Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Funds that avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions. See fund literature for further details.
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
The fund manager excludes companies with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)
The fund manager excludes companies with indirect involvement in fossil fuel exploration. For example they would be expected to exclude banks and insurance companies that are effectively enabling new coal, oil and or gas reserves to be discovered and in due course extracted through the provision of necessary finance or services.
Will only invest in companies that report greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies in line with the framework set out the by the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Disclosure, which is increasingly becoming mandatory. See https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ https ://www.ifrs.org/sustainability/tcfd/
Social / Employment
Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.
Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards
Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds that exclude companies involved in the ‘fast fashion’ sector - these funds will typically be of the view that this area is unsustainable and prone to low environmental and social standards.
Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
All mining companies excluded
Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Find funds that have policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.
Find funds which have a policy that excludes manufacturers of products designed for use in armaments and weapons. See fund literature for more information.
Find funds that avoid companies with military contracts of any kind. This may include medical supplies, food, safety equipment, housing, etc. Fund strategies vary. See fund liteterature for more information.
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Find funds with policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Human Rights
Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products. See fund literature for further information.
Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Find funds with a thematic investment approach focusing on the ‘silver economy’ - in particular (typically) the issues and opportunities presented by changing demographics. This could include finance, healthcare and medicines and/ or longevity science to extend lifespans. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Fund has a theme that may direct investment towards newer forms of food such as plant based meat alternatives. A fund may have one or many themes. See fund information.
Fund has a responsible food production or agriculture theme or strand of investment. Funds may have a single theme or many themes. See fund information.
Gilts & Sovereigns
Find funds that do not invest in, or exclude, gilts and/or government bonds.
Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp
Banking & Financials
Will not invest in any banks.
Exclude all companies in the banking, insurance, finance and related sectors.
Will avoid banks that have a large part of their loan book (or other assets) invested in fossil fuels companies - particular coal, oil and gas.
Find funds that explicitly avoid investing in insurance companies, typically because of the organisations they insure. See fund literature for more information as strategies vary.
Find funds that avoid investing in insurance companies that insure major fossil fuels companies – particularly coal, oil and gas. Strategies (eg definition of ‘major’) vary. See fund literature for further information.
Governance & Management
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that have policies explaining how the fund managers take into account digital/cyber security related risks. Funds with cyber policies will typically favour companies with higher standards or that are helping to solve problems - but strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)
Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity
Fund Governance
Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.
Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not.
Asset Size
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.
How The Fund Works
Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Single resource themed funds focus their investment strategy on a single natural 'resource' eg water. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.
Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.
Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).
Unscreened Assets & Cash
The percentage of assets held within the fund that match the fund’s sustainability objectives and are not being held purely for risk management purposes, such as derivatives and cash equivalent assets.
The percentage of assets held within the fund that match the fund’s sustainability objectives and are not being held purely for risk management purposes, such as derivatives and cash equivalent assets.
The percentage of assets held within the fund that match the fund’s sustainability objectives and are not being held purely for risk management purposes, such as derivatives and cash equivalent assets
Fund that only invest in cash to aid the practical management (buying and selling) of assets. These funds do not use additional financial instruments.
Intended Clients & Product Options
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options
Fund Management Company Information
About The Business
Find fund management companies that are smaller or specialise in particular areas - notably, ideally ESG related. Strategies vary.
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.
Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.
Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).
Collaborations & Affiliations
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
Find fund management companies that have partnered with Fund EcoMarket - meaning that they are helping to improve access to information on sustainable and responsible investment by paying an annual fee to us which enables us to publish information for free. Partner funds are listed ahead of other funds and have their logos displayed.
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/
Resources
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)
Accreditations
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'
Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.
Engagement Approach
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.
The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global
Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)
Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards
Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.
Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term.
Company Wide Exclusions
Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in tobacco (manufacturing) companies across all their assets.
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in fossil fuel companies (e.g. coal, oil and gas) across all of their funds. (and/ or other assets.)
Asset management company excludes companies with fossil fuel reserves across all assets/funds
Climate & Net Zero Transition
Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.
Fund manager AGM / EGM voting strategy has processes in place that mean they will normally be expected to vote in a way that will encourage the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'.
Transparency
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.
This asset management company has published information on their website about the delivery of a 'just transition' - ie the delivery of the necessary shift to a sustainable future that takes full account of social implications - how change effects people. See eg https://www.unepfi.org/social-issues/just-transition/ or LSE Grantham
Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.
This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are to become a sustainable business - without significant negative environmental or social impacts.
This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.
Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:
Sarasin & Partners has one of the longest track records of investing in the food and agriculture space, having launched the strategy in 2008. Our strategy is differentiated from other food and agricultural strategies through our allocation, both along the food and agriculture value chain, and geographically. We tailor our wider three core pillar (thematic investing, responsible ownership, active management) investment approach to opportunities that underpin growth in the food and agriculture economy.
Many food and agriculture investment strategies concentrate on the largest agriculture-related companies, which tend to be heavily exposed to large-scale, intensive farming operations. This sector is highly productive with tightly managed, pest controlled and waste minimised inputs. It relies on a system managed to maximise arable and economic yields, but offers limited room for further improvement in capital returns and productivity growth and is increasingly challenged by the trend towards a more sustainable, resilient, and lower greenhouse gasses emitting agricultural system.
Analysis of the changing economic value in the food chain highlights the rapid increase in the downstream food economy: in the storage, processing and retailing of food and in the health and food technology which offer new and sustainable growth opportunities.
Underlying these themes is a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally considerate approaches to food, which is strongly reflected in the Strategy’s ESG policy: since launch, the Strategy has avoided exposure to pesticides, palm oil and beef producers.
The Food and Agriculture Opportunities Fund also avoids companies that are materially engaged in certain sectors, including the production or distribution of tobacco, armaments, gambling and adult entertainment.
Process:
Our aim is to deliver enduring value for our clients across market cycles. When we invest on behalf of our clients, we look to the long-term prospects of a company. We purchase shares where there is a case for enduring value creation, and where this is currently underappreciated by the market.
We also believe that responsible companies will tend to create more durable economic value. Specifically, we favour businesses that articulate compelling long-term strategies, and take seriously their responsibilities to their customers, supply chain, staff, local communities, the environment, and their shareholders.
Once we become shareholders on behalf of our clients, we believe it is important to build lines of communications with the executives and the Board of Directors. Stewardship is as much about ongoing responsible ownership as to the considered approach to selecting investee companies. We also believe that our clients’ long-term interests are not best served by a narrow focus on relative performance against a market index. The service we offer goes beyond beating a benchmark: first and foremost, we start with our clients’ needs and take a holistic approach. We would not, for instance, deploy capital in a company whose success involves causing significant harm elsewhere, which could damage our clients’ interests. Where we believe we can play a positive role in boosting broader market returns through improved government policies or market practices we will seek to catalyse change.
We aim to invest in companies that benefit from our ‘global themes’, or societal trends such as digitalisation, automation, ageing, emerging consumption, climate change and security. Further, we seek companies that are able to drive long-term performance through credible strategies to transform these strengths into enduring value, and demonstrating robust governance structures that will protect shareholders’ and creditors’ interests.
Environmental, governance and social factors are considered alongside other value drivers in determining a company’s ‘investment case’ and ‘risks to investment’. Companies’ long-term success depends on strategies that sustainably deliver goods or services valued by customers, such that companies earn an attractive return, maintain their license to operate and prosper. A company’s relations with core stakeholders, from employees, to suppliers, to regulators, to local communities to other groups that are impacted by (and may impact) the company’s operations, as well as its environmental performance, are important considerations.
ESG is, therefore, a required part of our analysis, and where we identify potential material impacts, this must be reflected within the valuation of each company. As part of our financial modelling we assess the materiality of ESG headwinds or tailwinds for every company and incorporate this into our fair value assessment. This therefore has an impact on portfolio construction as it is part of the fundamental assessment of a company, which is considered in the investment decision and position sizing.
The key sustainability issues for food and agriculture include, but are not limited to, deforestation, depletion of water tables and contamination of the water system, carbon emissions from agriculture, pesticides, circular economy and biodiversity.
Idea Generation
The Strategy focuses exclusively on opportunities in the food and agriculture sector. We begin by identifying themes from both a top-down, “big picture” perspective and from our bottom-up, fundamental analysis of industries and companies.
By looking at the world with a multi-thematic perspective. we ensure that we are investing in alignment with the development of society, and avoid business activities that are unsustainable or in structural decline.
Whilst these themes are grounded in sustainability, climate change as one of our six mega-themes has the most direct link to sustainability. Examples of these themes include diet change, nutrition & health, rising productivity, decarbonising food system; and food security and resilience.
We then produce a set of companies in which we could invest to capture each theme. The combination of these forms our investment universe, which contains around 550 companies that the Strategy could potentially invest in.
From this discrete investment universe, we conduct thorough fundamental analysis, including an ESG assessment.
Stock Selection
Our thematic process aims to capture future growth, which demands consideration of sustainability as we seek investable ideas. Once we determine which companies are worthy of analysis, our analysts begin to build the investment case, and determine fair value.
Our research process has ESG explicitly integrated into the analysis, as well as the wider considerations to the investment thesis. These impacts can be positive or negative.
We utilise our own framework and ratings system, Sarasin Sustainability Impact Matrix (SIM) to represent our proprietary ESG analysis. This analysis is bottom-up and driven by primary research, supplemented with ESG data from MSCI, ISS and other sources.
These are then summarised in a higher-level E, S and G traffic light rating. This tool evaluates approximately 160 data points, categorising each factor as Red, Amber, or Green, based on the severity, materiality and potential impact (both positive and negative) for each. The ratings reflect absolute, not relative, risks to capital. This means that companies in a particular sector or geography may cluster around higher or lower scores reflecting in part the business practices of a sector or country they operate in. The lower scores for this geography/sector would naturally suggest we need to be more cautious here.
Furthermore, analysts assign an overall ESG score from A-E, and momentum indicators where we believe there to be significant direction of travel. “A” indicates ESG is a positive tailwind for the investment case; whereas “E” is effectively un-investable. The outcome of this rating system results in an overall ESG score between A and E.
Our analysts are all ESG analysts, and have the ability to adjust various inputs to their models of fair value for ESG impacts. The analysts own their valuations, but are challenged by the team, including our stewardship specialists on any ESG factors included or not considered. This is often an adjustment to the discount rate/ weighted average cost of capital (WACC) but can be incorporated into capital expenditure forecasts, impairments, revenue and/or cost impacts to name a few. We believe this analysis will depend on the case in hand, so analysts need to have the opportunity to determine how the economics of the business will in reality be impacted. Our analysts will also simulate three differing scenarios; bull, base and bear that can be used to reflect the pace or scale of ESG impacts to the economic model.
Materiality must be modelled based on an understanding of the economics, not rules. As specific ESG issues will be more or less material depending on a company’s sector and business model, we do not adopt a formulaic link between the “traffic light” assessment and overall ESG rating (e.g. two ambers and one green do not necessarily equate to a B). Instead, a stock note will illustrate how our assessment of material ESG issues (structured by the “traffic lights”) has informed our view of a company’s ESG risk and materiality, which is captured by the letter rating. The ESG assessment will naturally inform the final stock rating alongside other inputs. For instance, a stock rated 2 with an ESG rating of C will incorporate an analysis, how this flows through to the model and the valuation impact from the identified ESG factors.
Whilst we have a team of stewardship specialists that are custodians of our ESG considerations and engagement activity, they are part of the investment team and contribute to team discussion and challenge alongside the thematic equity analysts.
Portfolio Construction
We aim to build a portfolio of between 35 and 50 stocks and this will vary depending on the number of compelling investment ideas we identify and the risk profile of these companies. Stocks are selected from the Food & Agriculture Buy list but the Portfolio Managers are not compelled to buy any particular stock - they are fully responsible for the construction and performance of the Strategy.
Once we have bought a stake in a company, we stay close to it. We monitor the business’ strategic outlook and performance, its critical value drivers to ensure their persistence, and our conviction in the stock’s long-term value proposition. Engagement and voting are key considerations throughout our research process in order to communicate with management on ESG and other issues and press where we see a need for change. A considered approach to voting is vital not just because it is a key avenue through which we can express our views, but also because it supports our relationships with the company’s Board of Directors and executives.
Data sources
The vast majority of our ESG analysis is proprietary analysis. We do use a range of providers to supplement this proprietary work, including MSCI, ISS as well as various ESG networks like ICGN, ACGA, alongside sell-side brokers and independent research input. All external data provided assists with our overall research process but in no way replaces or precludes the need for proprietary ESG and stewardship research. Our process is founded on the robustness and soundness of our own research prior to reliance on the data of third parties. For ethical screening, we use MSCI data. We also initiate, sponsor and participate in academic work and discussion to identify and investigate early opportunities, themes and trends.
We also utilise a company’s disclosures, external experts, non-governmental organisations, government publications and discussions.
Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:
Internal Resources
No. All of our analysts and portfolio managers consider ESG factors when discussing stock ideas and building an investment case. Thus, we consider the entire team an ESG resource.
The stewardship specialists are directly responsible for engagement efforts, and work with the analysts to help them develop their ESG analysis and ratings for stocks.
Whilst the analysts own their ratings, this must be approved by the stewardship team to ensure joint accountability. It is important to note that our stewardship specialists are part of the global equity team, and are involved in team discussions and decisions.
We utilise our own framework and ratings systems to represent our proprietary ESG analysis. This analysis is bottom-up and driven by extensive primary research carried out by our analysts, supplemented with ESG data from MSCI, ISS and other sources.
Affiliations and Memberships
Sarasin & Partners has been an independent signatory of the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI) since January 2012. In addition to the UNPRI, we are signatories to the UK Stewardship Code. We were accepted as a signatory of the Code first in September 2021, and subsequently confirmed as such in two subsequent years, 2022 and 2023, following a detailed annual stewardship report submitted to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).
Memberships / initiatives are often the forum in which we work to improve ESG standards and taxonomy. We also carry out numerous engagement initiatives alongside some of these organisations, such as Climate Action 100+ for engagements on climate issues. We have provided a sample list directly below.
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (founding signatory)
- Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC, part of GIC)
- Task Force for Climate-related Financial Reporting
- CDP (formerly Climate Disclosure Project)
- Climate Action 100+
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation Plastics Initiative
- Plastic Solutions Investor Alliance (PSIA)
SOCIAL
- 30% Group Investor Initiative
- Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI)
- Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
GOVERNANCE
- International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) (Sarasin & Partners won the Investment Disclosure Aware for managers with <$60bn AUM, November 2021
- Asian Corporate Governance Association (AGCA)
- Council of Institutional Investors (CII)
- Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI)
- Corporate Reporting and Auditing Group, convened by the Investment Association
- Investor Advisory Group of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
- We also support The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF).
Many of these commitments provide us with a network of peers and supporters for key ESG related issues. It is important for us to remain engaged with group advocacy work, collaborative endeavours, such as engagements, but also to keep aware of best practice. Often, we find these networks to be useful sources of data and information either on a broad ESG related issue or on company specific metrics that may not be found in other sources. This information can be helpful to keep our investment process, which incorporates ESG analysis, focused on relevant issues and outcomes.
While most our company engagements are pursued on our own, we will collaborate with other investors where we are seeking to escalate, often because of resistance from the board or executives. Often having a larger shareholding united on a matter of concern can be more impactful. Whenever we explore collaboration, we ensure the steps we take are consistent with local laws and regulations. In certain cases, these collaborations link into broader initiatives that we support, such as ICCR Covid-19 engagement; the Ellen MacArthur global commitment on recycling; or Climate Action 100+.
Literature
Fund Holdings
Voting Record
Disclaimer
Important Information
This information is intended for professional investors only. Not for onward distribution.
Please note: Fund/Portfolio Size, SRI Assets & AUM figures: Source: Sarasin & Partners. The AUM data provided is for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon as a definitive measure of the firm's assets under management. Refer to our latest financial statements for official figures.
This information has been issued by Sarasin & Partners LLP of Juxon House, 100 St Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4M 8BU, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC329859, and which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with firm reference number 475111.
This material has been prepared for marketing and information purposes only and is not a solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. The information on which the material is based has been obtained in good faith, from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not independently verified such information and we make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice.
This information should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice, or investment recommendations. Reliance should not be placed on the views and information in this material when taking individual investment and/or strategic decisions.
The value of investments and any income derived from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. If investing in foreign currencies, the return in the investor’s reference currency may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and may not be repeated. Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future performance.
There is no minimum investment period, though we would recommend that you view your investment as a medium to long term one (i.e. 5 to 10 years).
Investments in the transferable securities of smaller companies may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies as a result of inadequate trading volume or restrictions on trading. Transferable securities in smaller companies may possess greater potential for capital appreciation, but also involve risks such as limited product lines, markets, financial or managerial resources, and trading in such securities may be subject to more abrupt price movements than trading in the securities of larger companies.
This Fund predominantly invests in one particular type of asset or industry, such as the digital sector, property or the agricultural sector. This focus may result in higher risk when comparing to a fund that has spread or diversified its investments more broadly.
Risks associated with investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) include, but are not limited to, the following: declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbidding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, variations in rental income, changes in neighbourhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants, and increases in interest rates. In addition, REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts or may be affected by the quality of credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified and are subject to the risks of financing projects. The ability to trade REITs in the secondary market can be more limited than other stocks.
Frequent political and social unrest in Emerging Markets and the high inflation and interest rates this tends to encourage, may lead to sharp swings in foreign currency markets and stock markets. There is also an inherent risk in the smaller size of many Emerging Markets, especially since this means restricted liquidity. Further risks to consider are restrictions on foreigners making currency transactions or investments.
The Fund may invest in derivatives for efficient portfolio management purposes. This means Derivatives can only be used to manage the Fund more efficiently in an attempt to reduce the overall risk of its investments, reduce the costs of investing or generate additional capital or income, although this may not be achieved and may create losses greater than the cost of the derivative.
Neither Sarasin & Partners LLP nor any other member of the J. Safra Sarasin Holding Ltd group accepts any liability or responsibility whatsoever for any consequential loss of any kind arising out of the use of this information. The use of this information should not be regarded as a substitute for the exercise by the recipient of their own judgement. Sarasin & Partners LLP and/or any person connected with it may act upon or make use of the material referred to herein and/or any of the information upon which it is based, prior to publication of this information.
Where the data in this material comes partially from third-party sources the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information contained in this publication is not guaranteed, and third-party data is provided without any warranties of any kind. Sarasin & Partners LLP shall have no liability in connection with third-party data.
© 2025 Sarasin & Partners LLP – all rights reserved. This information can only be distributed or reproduced with permission from Sarasin & Partners LLP. Please contact marketing@sarasin.co.uk.
Fund Name | SRI Style | SDR Labelling | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | Last Amended |
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RLP Sarasin Food & Agriculture Opportunities Pn |
Sustainability Tilt | - | Pension | Global | Equity | 15/02/2013 | Jul 2025 | |
ObjectivesThe Fund seeks to provide growth (through increases in investment value and income) over a rolling five-year period through investment in companies from around the world which have exposure to food and agriculture sectors.
|
Fund Size: £1.39m (as at: 31/07/2023) ISIN: GB00B83TZS26 |
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Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG OverviewThis product is linked to the "Sarasin Food & Agriculture Opportunities" fund. The following information refers to the primary fund. The Fund is differentiated from other food and agricultural strategies through the level of diversification both along the food and agriculture value chain and geographically. We believe that the value of the whole food economy is expanding and therefore invest across the breadth of the food and agricultural spectrum, “from field to fork”. Within this spectrum, we use our thematic process to identify robust and enduring growth trends and companies that ought to benefit. The resulting portfolio aims to find pockets within the food economy where value is migrating towards and where the addressable market is growing faster than average. We invest in companies that can tap into those expanding profit pools and can defend their competitive position via scale, technology, network effects, or intellectual property. This should enable these companies to find margin expansion opportunities, amplifying earnings growth potential, and helping to generate attractive returns on capital. |
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Primary fund last amended: Jul 2025 |
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Information received directly from Fund Manager |
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Fund FiltersSustainability - General
Sustainability policy
Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.
Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Report against sustainability objectives
Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance) Environmental - General
Environmental policy
Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Waste management policy or theme
Find funds that have a written policy or theme on waste management - typically a view to encouraging higher levels of recycling and better efficiency / reducing waste.
Plastics policy
Funds that are reviewing or encouraging companies to manage down the overuse of plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). These funds will typically aim to encourage the use of alternative materials, but are unlikely to exclude companies purely on the basis of their use of plastics. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail. Nature & Biodiversity
Biodiversity / nature policy
Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity
Deforestation / palm oil policy
Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Illegal deforestation exclusion policy
Find funds that have policies in place explaining that they avoid companies involved in illegal and/or unsustainable deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other concerns. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Responsible palm oil policy
Fund has a responsible palm oil policy which is likely to focus on the producers of palm oil and deforestation issues with a view to informing investment decisions (and / or engagement) to support and encourage high standards.
Sustainable fisheries policy
Fund has a sustainable fisheries policy that will inform where it can and can not invest Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy
Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.
Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded
Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.
Fracking and tar sands excluded
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Arctic drilling exclusion
Funds that avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions. See fund literature for further details.
Fossil fuel reserves exclusion
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
Nuclear exclusion policy
Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Fossil fuel exploration exclusion - direct involvement
The fund manager excludes companies with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)
Fossil fuel exploration exclusion – indirect involvement
The fund manager excludes companies with indirect involvement in fossil fuel exploration. For example they would be expected to exclude banks and insurance companies that are effectively enabling new coal, oil and or gas reserves to be discovered and in due course extracted through the provision of necessary finance or services.
TCFD reporting requirement (Becoming IFRS)
Will only invest in companies that report greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies in line with the framework set out the by the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Disclosure, which is increasingly becoming mandatory. See https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ https ://www.ifrs.org/sustainability/tcfd/ Social / Employment
Social policy
Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.
Labour standards policy
Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards
Favours companies with strong social policies
Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.
Fast fashion exclusion
Find funds that exclude companies involved in the ‘fast fashion’ sector - these funds will typically be of the view that this area is unsustainable and prone to low environmental and social standards.
Health & wellbeing policies or theme
Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Mining exclusion
All mining companies excluded Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies
Find funds that have policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded
Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Tobacco and related products - avoid where revenue > 5%
Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Controversial weapons exclusion
Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.
Armaments manufacturers avoided
Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.
Armaments manufacturers not excluded
Find funds which have a policy that excludes manufacturers of products designed for use in armaments and weapons. See fund literature for more information.
Military involvement exclusion
Find funds that avoid companies with military contracts of any kind. This may include medical supplies, food, safety equipment, housing, etc. Fund strategies vary. See fund liteterature for more information.
Gambling avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Pornography avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Animal welfare policy
Find funds with policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail. Human Rights
Human rights policy
Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Responsible supply chain policy or theme
Find funds that have policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products. See fund literature for further information. Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Demographic / ageing population theme
Find funds with a thematic investment approach focusing on the ‘silver economy’ - in particular (typically) the issues and opportunities presented by changing demographics. This could include finance, healthcare and medicines and/ or longevity science to extend lifespans. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Plant based / smart food production theme
Fund has a theme that may direct investment towards newer forms of food such as plant based meat alternatives. A fund may have one or many themes. See fund information.
Responsible food production or agriculture theme
Fund has a responsible food production or agriculture theme or strand of investment. Funds may have a single theme or many themes. See fund information. Gilts & Sovereigns
Gilts / government bonds - exclude all
Find funds that do not invest in, or exclude, gilts and/or government bonds.
Does not invest in sovereigns
Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp Banking & Financials
Banking exclusion
Will not invest in any banks.
Financial institutions exclusion
Exclude all companies in the banking, insurance, finance and related sectors.
Exclude banks with significant fossil fuel investments
Will avoid banks that have a large part of their loan book (or other assets) invested in fossil fuels companies - particular coal, oil and gas.
Exclude all or most insurance companies
Find funds that explicitly avoid investing in insurance companies, typically because of the organisations they insure. See fund literature for more information as strategies vary.
Exclude insurers of major fossil fuel companies
Find funds that avoid investing in insurance companies that insure major fossil fuels companies – particularly coal, oil and gas. Strategies (eg definition of ‘major’) vary. See fund literature for further information. Governance & Management
Governance policy
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Avoids companies with poor governance
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.
UN sanctions exclusion
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
Anti-bribery and corruption policy
Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.
Digital / cyber security policy
Find funds that have policies explaining how the fund managers take into account digital/cyber security related risks. Funds with cyber policies will typically favour companies with higher standards or that are helping to solve problems - but strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Encourage board diversity e.g. gender
Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)
Encourage TCFD alignment for banks & insurance companies
Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).
Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy
Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.
ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report
Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not. Asset Size
Invests in small, mid and large cap companies / assets
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies. How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias
Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.
Negative selection bias
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Single resource theme or focus
Single resource themed funds focus their investment strategy on a single natural 'resource' eg water. See fund information for further detail.
Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria
Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.
Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector
Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.
SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website
Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies). Unscreened Assets & Cash
Assets typically aligned to sustainability objectives 70 - 79%
The percentage of assets held within the fund that match the fund’s sustainability objectives and are not being held purely for risk management purposes, such as derivatives and cash equivalent assets.
Assets typically aligned to sustainability objectives 80 – 89%
The percentage of assets held within the fund that match the fund’s sustainability objectives and are not being held purely for risk management purposes, such as derivatives and cash equivalent assets.
Assets typically aligned to sustainability objectives > 90%
The percentage of assets held within the fund that match the fund’s sustainability objectives and are not being held purely for risk management purposes, such as derivatives and cash equivalent assets
No ‘diversifiers’ used other than cash
Fund that only invest in cash to aid the practical management (buying and selling) of assets. These funds do not use additional financial instruments. Intended Clients & Product Options
Available via an ISA (OEIC only)
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.
Bespoke SRI / ESG portfolios available (DFMs)
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options Fund Management Company InformationAbout The Business
Boutique / specialist fund management company
Find fund management companies that are smaller or specialise in particular areas - notably, ideally ESG related. Strategies vary.
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.
Responsible ownership / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.
Responsible ownership policy for non SRI funds (AFM company wide)
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
Integrates ESG factors into all / most (AFM) fund research
Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.
In-house diversity improvement programme (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.
Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide). Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
Fund EcoMarket partner
Find fund management companies that have partnered with Fund EcoMarket - meaning that they are helping to improve access to information on sustainable and responsible investment by paying an annual fee to us which enables us to publish information for free. Partner funds are listed ahead of other funds and have their logos displayed.
Investment Association (IA) member
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/ Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies
Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.
ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types) Accreditations
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'
UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'. Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.
Engaging on climate change issues
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste
Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
Engaging to encourage responsible mining practices
Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.
Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues
The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global
Engaging to encourage a Just Transition
Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Engaging on human rights issues
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards
Engaging on labour / employment issues
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)
Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues
Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets
Engaging to stop modern slavery
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Engaging on governance issues
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Engaging on responsible supply chain issues
Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards
Engaging on the responsible use of AI
Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.
Stewardship escalation policy
Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term. Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.
Tobacco avoidance policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in tobacco (manufacturing) companies across all their assets.
Fossil fuel exclusion policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in fossil fuel companies (e.g. coal, oil and gas) across all of their funds. (and/ or other assets.)
Do not invest in companies with fossil fuel reserves
Asset management company excludes companies with fossil fuel reserves across all assets/funds Climate & Net Zero Transition
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)
Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.
Voting policy includes net zero targets (AFM company wide)
Fund manager AGM / EGM voting strategy has processes in place that mean they will normally be expected to vote in a way that will encourage the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide)
This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Working towards a ‘Net Zero’ commitment (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'. Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information on company website
Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.
Just Transition policy on website (AFM company wide)
This asset management company has published information on their website about the delivery of a 'just transition' - ie the delivery of the necessary shift to a sustainable future that takes full account of social implications - how change effects people. See eg https://www.unepfi.org/social-issues/just-transition/ or LSE Grantham
Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)
Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.
Sustainability transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)
This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are to become a sustainable business - without significant negative environmental or social impacts.
Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)
This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Dialshifter statement
Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information. Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:Sarasin & Partners has one of the longest track records of investing in the food and agriculture space, having launched the strategy in 2008. Our strategy is differentiated from other food and agricultural strategies through our allocation, both along the food and agriculture value chain, and geographically. We tailor our wider three core pillar (thematic investing, responsible ownership, active management) investment approach to opportunities that underpin growth in the food and agriculture economy. Many food and agriculture investment strategies concentrate on the largest agriculture-related companies, which tend to be heavily exposed to large-scale, intensive farming operations. This sector is highly productive with tightly managed, pest controlled and waste minimised inputs. It relies on a system managed to maximise arable and economic yields, but offers limited room for further improvement in capital returns and productivity growth and is increasingly challenged by the trend towards a more sustainable, resilient, and lower greenhouse gasses emitting agricultural system. Analysis of the changing economic value in the food chain highlights the rapid increase in the downstream food economy: in the storage, processing and retailing of food and in the health and food technology which offer new and sustainable growth opportunities. Underlying these themes is a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally considerate approaches to food, which is strongly reflected in the Strategy’s ESG policy: since launch, the Strategy has avoided exposure to pesticides, palm oil and beef producers. The Food and Agriculture Opportunities Fund also avoids companies that are materially engaged in certain sectors, including the production or distribution of tobacco, armaments, gambling and adult entertainment. Process:Our aim is to deliver enduring value for our clients across market cycles. When we invest on behalf of our clients, we look to the long-term prospects of a company. We purchase shares where there is a case for enduring value creation, and where this is currently underappreciated by the market. We also believe that responsible companies will tend to create more durable economic value. Specifically, we favour businesses that articulate compelling long-term strategies, and take seriously their responsibilities to their customers, supply chain, staff, local communities, the environment, and their shareholders. Once we become shareholders on behalf of our clients, we believe it is important to build lines of communications with the executives and the Board of Directors. Stewardship is as much about ongoing responsible ownership as to the considered approach to selecting investee companies. We also believe that our clients’ long-term interests are not best served by a narrow focus on relative performance against a market index. The service we offer goes beyond beating a benchmark: first and foremost, we start with our clients’ needs and take a holistic approach. We would not, for instance, deploy capital in a company whose success involves causing significant harm elsewhere, which could damage our clients’ interests. Where we believe we can play a positive role in boosting broader market returns through improved government policies or market practices we will seek to catalyse change. We aim to invest in companies that benefit from our ‘global themes’, or societal trends such as digitalisation, automation, ageing, emerging consumption, climate change and security. Further, we seek companies that are able to drive long-term performance through credible strategies to transform these strengths into enduring value, and demonstrating robust governance structures that will protect shareholders’ and creditors’ interests. Environmental, governance and social factors are considered alongside other value drivers in determining a company’s ‘investment case’ and ‘risks to investment’. Companies’ long-term success depends on strategies that sustainably deliver goods or services valued by customers, such that companies earn an attractive return, maintain their license to operate and prosper. A company’s relations with core stakeholders, from employees, to suppliers, to regulators, to local communities to other groups that are impacted by (and may impact) the company’s operations, as well as its environmental performance, are important considerations. ESG is, therefore, a required part of our analysis, and where we identify potential material impacts, this must be reflected within the valuation of each company. As part of our financial modelling we assess the materiality of ESG headwinds or tailwinds for every company and incorporate this into our fair value assessment. This therefore has an impact on portfolio construction as it is part of the fundamental assessment of a company, which is considered in the investment decision and position sizing. The key sustainability issues for food and agriculture include, but are not limited to, deforestation, depletion of water tables and contamination of the water system, carbon emissions from agriculture, pesticides, circular economy and biodiversity. Idea Generation The Strategy focuses exclusively on opportunities in the food and agriculture sector. We begin by identifying themes from both a top-down, “big picture” perspective and from our bottom-up, fundamental analysis of industries and companies. By looking at the world with a multi-thematic perspective. we ensure that we are investing in alignment with the development of society, and avoid business activities that are unsustainable or in structural decline. Whilst these themes are grounded in sustainability, climate change as one of our six mega-themes has the most direct link to sustainability. Examples of these themes include diet change, nutrition & health, rising productivity, decarbonising food system; and food security and resilience. We then produce a set of companies in which we could invest to capture each theme. The combination of these forms our investment universe, which contains around 550 companies that the Strategy could potentially invest in. From this discrete investment universe, we conduct thorough fundamental analysis, including an ESG assessment. Stock Selection Our thematic process aims to capture future growth, which demands consideration of sustainability as we seek investable ideas. Once we determine which companies are worthy of analysis, our analysts begin to build the investment case, and determine fair value. Our research process has ESG explicitly integrated into the analysis, as well as the wider considerations to the investment thesis. These impacts can be positive or negative. We utilise our own framework and ratings system, Sarasin Sustainability Impact Matrix (SIM) to represent our proprietary ESG analysis. This analysis is bottom-up and driven by primary research, supplemented with ESG data from MSCI, ISS and other sources. These are then summarised in a higher-level E, S and G traffic light rating. This tool evaluates approximately 160 data points, categorising each factor as Red, Amber, or Green, based on the severity, materiality and potential impact (both positive and negative) for each. The ratings reflect absolute, not relative, risks to capital. This means that companies in a particular sector or geography may cluster around higher or lower scores reflecting in part the business practices of a sector or country they operate in. The lower scores for this geography/sector would naturally suggest we need to be more cautious here. Furthermore, analysts assign an overall ESG score from A-E, and momentum indicators where we believe there to be significant direction of travel. “A” indicates ESG is a positive tailwind for the investment case; whereas “E” is effectively un-investable. The outcome of this rating system results in an overall ESG score between A and E. Our analysts are all ESG analysts, and have the ability to adjust various inputs to their models of fair value for ESG impacts. The analysts own their valuations, but are challenged by the team, including our stewardship specialists on any ESG factors included or not considered. This is often an adjustment to the discount rate/ weighted average cost of capital (WACC) but can be incorporated into capital expenditure forecasts, impairments, revenue and/or cost impacts to name a few. We believe this analysis will depend on the case in hand, so analysts need to have the opportunity to determine how the economics of the business will in reality be impacted. Our analysts will also simulate three differing scenarios; bull, base and bear that can be used to reflect the pace or scale of ESG impacts to the economic model. Materiality must be modelled based on an understanding of the economics, not rules. As specific ESG issues will be more or less material depending on a company’s sector and business model, we do not adopt a formulaic link between the “traffic light” assessment and overall ESG rating (e.g. two ambers and one green do not necessarily equate to a B). Instead, a stock note will illustrate how our assessment of material ESG issues (structured by the “traffic lights”) has informed our view of a company’s ESG risk and materiality, which is captured by the letter rating. The ESG assessment will naturally inform the final stock rating alongside other inputs. For instance, a stock rated 2 with an ESG rating of C will incorporate an analysis, how this flows through to the model and the valuation impact from the identified ESG factors. Whilst we have a team of stewardship specialists that are custodians of our ESG considerations and engagement activity, they are part of the investment team and contribute to team discussion and challenge alongside the thematic equity analysts. Portfolio Construction We aim to build a portfolio of between 35 and 50 stocks and this will vary depending on the number of compelling investment ideas we identify and the risk profile of these companies. Stocks are selected from the Food & Agriculture Buy list but the Portfolio Managers are not compelled to buy any particular stock - they are fully responsible for the construction and performance of the Strategy. Once we have bought a stake in a company, we stay close to it. We monitor the business’ strategic outlook and performance, its critical value drivers to ensure their persistence, and our conviction in the stock’s long-term value proposition. Engagement and voting are key considerations throughout our research process in order to communicate with management on ESG and other issues and press where we see a need for change. A considered approach to voting is vital not just because it is a key avenue through which we can express our views, but also because it supports our relationships with the company’s Board of Directors and executives. Data sources The vast majority of our ESG analysis is proprietary analysis. We do use a range of providers to supplement this proprietary work, including MSCI, ISS as well as various ESG networks like ICGN, ACGA, alongside sell-side brokers and independent research input. All external data provided assists with our overall research process but in no way replaces or precludes the need for proprietary ESG and stewardship research. Our process is founded on the robustness and soundness of our own research prior to reliance on the data of third parties. For ethical screening, we use MSCI data. We also initiate, sponsor and participate in academic work and discussion to identify and investigate early opportunities, themes and trends. We also utilise a company’s disclosures, external experts, non-governmental organisations, government publications and discussions. Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:Internal Resources No. All of our analysts and portfolio managers consider ESG factors when discussing stock ideas and building an investment case. Thus, we consider the entire team an ESG resource. The stewardship specialists are directly responsible for engagement efforts, and work with the analysts to help them develop their ESG analysis and ratings for stocks. Whilst the analysts own their ratings, this must be approved by the stewardship team to ensure joint accountability. It is important to note that our stewardship specialists are part of the global equity team, and are involved in team discussions and decisions. We utilise our own framework and ratings systems to represent our proprietary ESG analysis. This analysis is bottom-up and driven by extensive primary research carried out by our analysts, supplemented with ESG data from MSCI, ISS and other sources. Affiliations and Memberships Sarasin & Partners has been an independent signatory of the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI) since January 2012. In addition to the UNPRI, we are signatories to the UK Stewardship Code. We were accepted as a signatory of the Code first in September 2021, and subsequently confirmed as such in two subsequent years, 2022 and 2023, following a detailed annual stewardship report submitted to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). Memberships / initiatives are often the forum in which we work to improve ESG standards and taxonomy. We also carry out numerous engagement initiatives alongside some of these organisations, such as Climate Action 100+ for engagements on climate issues. We have provided a sample list directly below. ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
GOVERNANCE
Many of these commitments provide us with a network of peers and supporters for key ESG related issues. It is important for us to remain engaged with group advocacy work, collaborative endeavours, such as engagements, but also to keep aware of best practice. Often, we find these networks to be useful sources of data and information either on a broad ESG related issue or on company specific metrics that may not be found in other sources. This information can be helpful to keep our investment process, which incorporates ESG analysis, focused on relevant issues and outcomes. While most our company engagements are pursued on our own, we will collaborate with other investors where we are seeking to escalate, often because of resistance from the board or executives. Often having a larger shareholding united on a matter of concern can be more impactful. Whenever we explore collaboration, we ensure the steps we take are consistent with local laws and regulations. In certain cases, these collaborations link into broader initiatives that we support, such as ICCR Covid-19 engagement; the Ellen MacArthur global commitment on recycling; or Climate Action 100+. LiteratureFund HoldingsVoting RecordDisclaimerImportant Information This information is intended for professional investors only. Not for onward distribution. Please note: Fund/Portfolio Size, SRI Assets & AUM figures: Source: Sarasin & Partners. The AUM data provided is for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon as a definitive measure of the firm's assets under management. Refer to our latest financial statements for official figures. This information has been issued by Sarasin & Partners LLP of Juxon House, 100 St Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4M 8BU, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC329859, and which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with firm reference number 475111. This material has been prepared for marketing and information purposes only and is not a solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. The information on which the material is based has been obtained in good faith, from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not independently verified such information and we make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. This information should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice, or investment recommendations. Reliance should not be placed on the views and information in this material when taking individual investment and/or strategic decisions. The value of investments and any income derived from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. If investing in foreign currencies, the return in the investor’s reference currency may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and may not be repeated. Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future performance. There is no minimum investment period, though we would recommend that you view your investment as a medium to long term one (i.e. 5 to 10 years). Investments in the transferable securities of smaller companies may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies as a result of inadequate trading volume or restrictions on trading. Transferable securities in smaller companies may possess greater potential for capital appreciation, but also involve risks such as limited product lines, markets, financial or managerial resources, and trading in such securities may be subject to more abrupt price movements than trading in the securities of larger companies. This Fund predominantly invests in one particular type of asset or industry, such as the digital sector, property or the agricultural sector. This focus may result in higher risk when comparing to a fund that has spread or diversified its investments more broadly. Risks associated with investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) include, but are not limited to, the following: declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbidding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, variations in rental income, changes in neighbourhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants, and increases in interest rates. In addition, REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts or may be affected by the quality of credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified and are subject to the risks of financing projects. The ability to trade REITs in the secondary market can be more limited than other stocks. Frequent political and social unrest in Emerging Markets and the high inflation and interest rates this tends to encourage, may lead to sharp swings in foreign currency markets and stock markets. There is also an inherent risk in the smaller size of many Emerging Markets, especially since this means restricted liquidity. Further risks to consider are restrictions on foreigners making currency transactions or investments. The Fund may invest in derivatives for efficient portfolio management purposes. This means Derivatives can only be used to manage the Fund more efficiently in an attempt to reduce the overall risk of its investments, reduce the costs of investing or generate additional capital or income, although this may not be achieved and may create losses greater than the cost of the derivative. Neither Sarasin & Partners LLP nor any other member of the J. Safra Sarasin Holding Ltd group accepts any liability or responsibility whatsoever for any consequential loss of any kind arising out of the use of this information. The use of this information should not be regarded as a substitute for the exercise by the recipient of their own judgement. Sarasin & Partners LLP and/or any person connected with it may act upon or make use of the material referred to herein and/or any of the information upon which it is based, prior to publication of this information. Where the data in this material comes partially from third-party sources the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information contained in this publication is not guaranteed, and third-party data is provided without any warranties of any kind. Sarasin & Partners LLP shall have no liability in connection with third-party data. © 2025 Sarasin & Partners LLP – all rights reserved. This information can only be distributed or reproduced with permission from Sarasin & Partners LLP. Please contact marketing@sarasin.co.uk. |