Are Australian farms still a sound investment? And additional headlines

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, beyond the romanticism of rolling green hills and contented cows, Australian farms remain an attractive investment. In other news, a survey measuring the readiness of Singaporeans for a sustainable future revealed a significant gap between recognizing sustainability as vital versus actively taking action. Lastly, Bangkok is a city of the world, but tolerance makes it a world city.

Strawberries, bamboo, dragon fruit and more: Weighing up the investment potential of Aussie farms

From childhood stories of Old MacDonald to glossy magazine spreads showcasing idyllic rural retreats, the allure of owning a farm has long captivated the Australian imagination. But beyond the romanticism and visions of rolling green hills and contented cows, one question remains: are farms still a sound investment? Yes, according to this realcommercial.com.au report. “Despite weather conditions, rising oil prices, and disruptions in the supply gain, the agricultural sector continues to be attractive for investors,” chief economist and head of national research at PRD Real Estate, Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo said. “Especially those who are looking to diversify their portfolio and have prior farming knowledge.”

Are Singapore consumers ready for a sustainable future?

As a homegrown financial services provider, Singlife developed the Sustainable Future Index (SFI), a pioneering measure of the readiness of consumers in Singapore for a sustainable future. Such readiness is determined not only by one’s actions but also by one’s attitudes and beliefs about sustainability. Through a survey of 1,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents across diverse demographic groups, the SFI revealed a significant gap: While seven in 10 respondents recognise sustainability as vital for the planet’s future, only three in 10 are actively taking action, with most citing recycling and reducing single-use plastics as their primary actions. According to CNA, these steps, though important, fall short of the expansive actions needed to drive meaningful change.

Tolerance makes Bangkok a world city

Bangkok is a city of the world, but is it a world city? The answer is an enthusiastic though qualified yes, according to an informal poll among long-term foreign residents, as featured in Bangkok Post. Cosmopolitan Bangkok has evolved in myriad ways. Key criteria included a large population, cosmopolitan quarters, connectivity, openness, tolerance and perhaps permissiveness. It’s the fluidity of which is perhaps why Bangkok, regarded as exotic, backward and provincial for much of its history, can after the last quarter century of development, now be seriously viewed as a contender. Thai hospitality and hotel expertise is not a trivial consideration as best practices are imbued with a tolerance for people of all backgrounds in the best-of-the-world city tradition. Bangkok shines as a non-colonial exemplar of greeting the world head-on.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].