“Super El Nino” Jeopardizes Global Food Supplies In 2026 | John Farris of LandFund Partners

Summary

Jack Farley interviews John Farris of LandFund Partners about global food security and farmland investment. Farris argues that rising protein demand, shrinking arable land, tight grain reserves, and a possible super El Niño will pressure food supplies, especially rice. He makes the case for US row crop farmland, Midsouth irrigated land above the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer, and undeveloped water rights. The discussion also covers crop subsidies, regenerative farming, solar optionality, and farmland's diversification properties.

• Global food reserves have fallen to about 70 days while population and protein demand rise.
• John Farris expects a super El Niño to stress crops in Brazil, Argentina, India, and Southeast Asia, especially rice.
• LandFund focuses on irrigated Midsouth farmland above the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer with long water supply.
• Undeveloped Midsouth water rights are seen as an unvalued option as data centers seek water offsets.
• Farmland is presented as benefiting from crop subsidies, regenerative practices, and solar/transmission-line optionality.
• US row crop farmland is described as negatively correlated with stocks and bonds and useful for diversification.
• Farris says he is long rice and expects broad long-term strength in corn, soybeans, cotton, and rice.
• The farmland fund has a $100,000 minimum and uses modest government-backed leverage.