by Andrea Gruza | Apr 8, 2025
Calgary, AB, April 7, 2025 – Alberta-based Solvet, a subsidiary of Alberta Veterinary Laboratories Ltd. (“AVL” of the “Company”), is proud to announce a strategic investment from Canadian-owned and operated Bonnefield Financial Inc. (“Bonnefield”), a leading agriculture-focused investment management firm, through its Bonnefield Agribusiness Fund.
Established in 2009 by Dr. Merle Olson and Dr. Barbara Olson, Solvet is a family-owned company that supplies animal health and pharmaceutical products to livestock producers, veterinarians and pet owners in Canada and around the world. As one of North America’s only animal health companies focusing on livestock welfare and pain management, Solvet’s work meets a critical need across several sectors.
“Since Solvet opened its doors, we’ve continued to be bold and ambitious in delivering ‘innovation by request’ to support our key partners and customers,” explained Lionel Gibbs, Solvet’s Chief Executive Officer. “This investment from Bonnefield allows us to keep advancing our work through a strong Canadian partnership. As the first-ever outside equity in Solvet, we see this as a clear endorsement of our work and the potential ahead.”
With this strategic investment, Solvet is better equipped to coordinate its product development, distribution channels, compounding clinic and innovation efforts, including advanced manufacturing, to meet the needs of industry. Working closely with Bonnefield, through its Agribusiness Fund, the Company’s work will be catalyzed.
“Solvet plays a critical role in advancing best practices for livestock care through its robust product portfolio and unique manufacturing capabilities,” stated Sam Doyle, Managing Partner at Bonnefield. “Through our investment, we are excited to support the growth of this Canadian agribusiness and ultimately benefit the livestock industries both within Canada and abroad.”
Bonnefield’s Agribusiness Fund is dedicated to supporting companies critical to strengthening Canada’s agricultural value chain. This latest investment in Solvet underscores Bonnefield’s commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability and food security.
“Solvet is a trusted leader in the animal health sector, developing and manufacturing products that meet the highest industry standards,” commented Dr. Barbara Olson, Solvet co-founder and VP of Quality & Regulatory Affairs. “This investment supports our expanded production capabilities, enhances market reach and accelerates research and development.”
For questions about the fund and its fundraising status contact investors@bonnefield.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lionel Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer, Solvet
(403) 392-0158
lionel.gibbs@avetlabs.com
Andrea Gruza, President, Bonnefield
agruza@bonnefield.com
About Solvet: Founded by the Olson family in 2009, Solvet meets the veterinary pharmaceutical needs of producers and pet owners. With an innovative business model, they develop products by listening to customers and producing them at their headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. www.solvet.ca
About Bonnefield Financial: Bonnefield is a leading Canadian owned and operated farmland and agriculture investment manager, providing financing to progressive farmers and agricultural operators through land-lease and non-controlling capital solutions. Bonnefield is dedicated to preserving farmland for farming, and the firm partners with growth-oriented operators to help them grow, strengthen their balance sheet, and facilitate retirement and succession. www.bonnefield.com
by Bonnefield Financial | Jan 15, 2025
Toronto, ON, January 15, 2025 – Bonnefield Financial Inc. (Bonnefield), a leading Canadian agriculture-focused investment management firm, announced today the second close of its agribusiness fund including an anchor investment from Farm Credit Canada (FCC). The Bonnefield Agribusiness Fund LP I (BAF) has raised over $75 million to date.
BAF invests non-controlling capital to support the growth of leading Canadian agribusinesses. The fund focuses on established lower-middle market businesses operating in the middle of the agriculture value chain, including primary and value-add processors, food and ingredient manufacturers, and storage and distribution businesses.
“Canada is globally recognized as a leading agricultural producer, but there is a shortage of capital to support the growth of Canadian agribusinesses that operate downstream from the farm. The investments we make through the Bonnefield Agribusiness Fund allow our partner companies to execute on specific growth projects and/or move to their next stage of growth and productivity,” said Sam Doyle, Managing Partner at Bonnefield.
“We are thrilled to have the partnership of FCC, a leading provider of capital to Canadian agriculture and food, supporting these investments,” said Andrea Gruza, President and Managing Partner at Bonnefield.
“Canadian agriculture needs capital to drive innovation and support agri-businesses. FCC is committed to working with industry partners to expand on what’s available,” said Doug Hewson, Vice-President of Investment for FCC. “The Bonnefield Agribusiness Fund complements our current capital solutions, and we are eager to collaborate with the Bonnefield team to foster impactful investments that support the industry’s growth.”
“BAF is a natural evolution for Bonnefield, allowing investors to gain exposure to the attractive attributes of Canadian agriculture by leveraging our relationships and expertise in the industry. This fund is a direct response to inbound operator queries seeking capital to back strong management teams to fund growth,” said Andrea Gruza.
The fund has already completed an initial investment into a leading Canadian produce shipper / marketer with strong growth opportunities across North America, and the investment team is currently active on several additional investment opportunities.
For questions about the fund and its fundraising status contact investors@bonnefield.com.
About Bonnefield Financial Inc.
Bonnefield is a leading Canadian owned and operated farmland and agriculture investment manager, providing financing to progressive farmers and agricultural operators through land-lease and non-controlling equity solutions. Bonnefield is dedicated to preserving farmland for farming, and the firm partners with growth-oriented operators to help them grow, reduce debt, and finance retirement and succession. The firm’s investors are individuals and institutional investors who are committed to the long-term future of Canadian agriculture. For more information visit www.bonnefield.com.
About Farm Credit Canada
FCC is proud to be 100% invested in Canadian agriculture and food. The organization’s employees are committed to the longstanding success of those who produce and process Canadian food. FCC provides flexible financing and capital solutions, while creating value through data, knowledge, relationships and expertise. FCC offers a complement of financial and non-financial products and services designed to support the complex and evolving needs of the industry. As a commercial Crown corporation, FCC is a stable partner that reinvests profits back into the industry and communities it serves. For more information, visit fcc.ca.
Download PDF
by Bonnefield Financial | Jan 7, 2025
Toronto, ON, January 7, 2025 – Bonnefield Financial Inc. (“Bonnefield” or the “Company”), a leading Canadian farmland and agribusiness investment manager, is pleased to announce the promotion of two of its senior executives.
Andrea Gruza Promoted to President
The Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Andrea Gruza to President effective January 1, 2025. In this role, Andrea oversees Bonnefield activities across all business units, while maintaining direct responsibility for driving fundraising, investor relations, and ESG activities. Additionally, Andrea is a key driver of the firm’s long-term strategy including new product development and strategic priorities.
Tom Eisenhauer, CEO & Founding Partner said “Since joining Bonnefield nearly six years ago, Andrea has been an instrumental partner to me and has increasingly contributed to the growth and success of the Company. Andrea consistently demonstrates our core values and is a champion of our high-performance culture.”
Sam Doyle Promoted to Managing Partner
Bonnefield is also pleased to announce the promotion of Sam Doyle to Managing Partner effective January 1, 2025. Sam joined Bonnefield in 2022 to provide leadership to the Investment Management team and to launch Bonnefield’s Agribusiness Fund.
“In his time with Bonnefield”, says Eisenhauer, “Sam has immensely contributed to the culture of Bonnefield. He is a seasoned investment professional who is able to lead and develop the next generation of talent through his experience and commitment to excellence. This promotion reflects the valuable role he provides to the organization.”
About Bonnefield Financial Inc.
Bonnefield is a leading Canadian farmland and agriculture investment manager, providing financing to progressive farmers and agricultural operators through land-lease and non-controlling equity solutions. Bonnefield is dedicated to preserving farmland for farming, and the firm partners with growth-oriented operators to help them grow, reduce debt, and finance retirement and succession. The firm’s investors are individuals and institutional investors who are committed to the long-term future of Canadian agriculture. www.bonnefield.com
Contact
Tom Eisenhauer
CEO & Founding Partner
teisenhauer@bonnefield.com
Download PDF
by Bonnefield Financial | Aug 29, 2023
- The nonprofit agriculture sustainability organization is currently piloting its international farmland management standard in Canada with Manulife Investment Management, Bonnefield Financial, Farm Credit Canada, and McCain Foods.
Arlington, VA, August 29, 2023 – Leading Harvest, an industry leader in agriculture sustainability, has announced it is piloting its innovative, third-party audited Farmland Management Standard in Canada, with plans to officially launch in the country by the end of the year. The pilot comes as the federal government works on its first sustainable agriculture strategy and just months after the launch of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector.
“Leading Harvest is a game-changer. The organization has demonstrated certification can be applied across all crop types, geographies, and management systems to provide assurance that operations are well rooted in best practices, while ensuring a commitment to robust management and continuous improvement,” said Oliver Williams, Global Head of Agricultural Investments at Manulife Investment Management and member of the Leading Harvest Board of Directors. “As we look forward to the launch of the Canadian program, we become one step closer to a single, comprehensive sustainability standard across the globe.”
The Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard was the first universal, outcomes-based sustainability standard to focus on continuous improvement in agriculture. Just three years after its launch in the United States, nearly 3 million acres representing more than 100 crop types globally have enrolled. Earlier this year, Leading Harvest successfully launched in Australia with enrollment across all six states.
Leading Harvest looked to Canada to continue its expansion due to the growing demand for sustainability assurance across the Canadian food and agriculture sectors.
“There is an increasingly urgent demand for verification of sustainable practices from farmers, consumers, and investors alike. Farmers, agribusiness operators, and others across the food and agriculture sectors must now deliver on ambitious commitments, and on short timelines. The rapid expansion of Leading Harvest’s Farmland Management Standard across continents and hemispheres is a testament to the need for a sector-wide, universally applicable framework for continuously improving agricultural sustainability,” says Kenny Fahey, President and CEO of Leading Harvest. “With our Canadian pilot, Leading Harvest continues to demonstrate that alignment across the value chain can drive greater outcomes for all. We appreciate the leadership of our Canadian pilot participants and look forward to welcoming more food and agriculture leaders from across Canada on this journey.”
The Leading Harvest Canada pilot program has been facilitated with Anchoring Support from Manulife Investment Management and support from Bonnefield Financial, Farm Credit Canada, and McCain Foods. The pilot will adapt the same Farmland Management Standard that was implemented in the United States and Australia to Canada’s unique agronomic, regulatory, and operating environment through further stakeholder input and field testing. Leading Harvest expects to increase participation and representation from across the agricultural value chain over the course of the pilot.
More information about Leading Harvest, the Farmland Management Standard, and how to join can be found at www.leadingharvest.org.
About Leading Harvest
Leading Harvest is a nonprofit organization that provides transparent standards and education to enable and validate the global transition to a more sustainable agricultural system. Its innovative, third-party audited Farmland Management Standard has been applied across diverse farming operations and crop types globally with almost 3 million acres now enrolled. It was launched in 2020 by and for stakeholders across the supply chain, from farmland owners to companies and communities, including listening sessions across regions. Leading Harvest Founding Supporters include Cargill, Nestlé, John Deere, and Nutrien Ag Solutions.
About Bonnefield Financial Inc.
Bonnefield is a leading Canadian farmland and agriculture investment manager, providing financing to progressive farmers and agricultural operators through land-lease and non-controlling equity solutions. Bonnefield is dedicated to preserving farmland for farming, and the firm partners with growth-oriented operators to help them grow, reduce debt, and finance retirement and succession. The firm’s investors are individuals and institutional investors who are committed to the long-term future of Canadian agriculture. www.bonnefield.com; @bonnefield
Contact
Andrea Gruza
Managing Partner
agruza@bonnefield.com
Download PDF
by Bonnefield Financial | Aug 3, 2022
- Project provides baseline greenhouse gas intensity measurement in support of Bonnefield’s commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices
Toronto, August 3, 2022 – Bonnefield Financial Inc. (Bonnefield), a leading Canadian farmland investment management firm with over $1bn of Assets Under Management (AUM), has released its 2022 Sustainability Report outlining the firm’s ongoing activities in support of sustainable farming practices across its portfolio of Canadian farmland assets. Notable in this year’s report is the inclusion of a CO2 emissions measurement based on a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory completed earlier this year.
The analysis, which was conducted with a leading independent climate consultant, utilizes a combination of on-farm and industry data to arrive at a base year calculation for GHG emissions across Bonnefield’s investment portfolios.
According to Tom Eisenhauer, Bonnefield’s Founding Partner and CEO, “We have always believed that sustainable farming practices are critical to protecting and enhancing the long-term value of farmland. The creation of this GHG inventory is an additional lens through which we can assess our farmland assets.”
Andrea Gruza, Managing Partner at Bonnefield, adds “In addition to measuring GHG emissions on farm, we have also begun to review the carbon sequestration potential of our agricultural soils. This is an emerging area of study which we anticipate will see significant evolution over the next few years. I’m pleased at how well-positioned Bonnefield is to measure and track this going forward.”
Bonnefield’s 2022 Sustainability Report can be found on the firm’s website at www.bonnefield.com.
About Bonnefield Financial Inc.
Bonnefield is a leader in sustainable investing in Canada’s agriculture sector. The company is Canada’s foremost provider of land-lease financing for farmers, dedicated to preserving farmland for farming and promoting sustainable farming practices. We partner with progressive, growth-oriented farmers to provide farmland leasing solutions to help them grow, reduce debt, and finance retirement and succession. Our investors are individuals and institutions who are committed to the long-term sustainability of agriculture. www.bonnefield.com; @bonnefield
Contact:
Andrea Gruza
Managing Partner
agruza@bonnefield.com
English 
French