ABOUT
We use our experience and knowledge to engage in primary-stage food, wood and energy production in developing and emerging economies
Recognising the role multilateral cooperation has in developing viable and sustainable businesses. Erik Odendaal founded AGREN with the dedicated purpose of supporting, investors and land based businesses, meet the challenges of a ‘net zero’ world.
AGREN is a multidisciplinary company providing a dedicated support services to land based industries engaged in primary-stage food, wood and energy production in the United Kingdom and Internationally.
We are a small team with an extensive international network across farming, forestry and renewable energy sectors. Our collective experience is commercial farming and forestry in Zimbabwe, but we also have significant experience in the UK covering farming, forestry and renewables sectors.
Our approach is simple, we are committed to supporting our clients achieve sustainable outcomes.
We work with a wide range of clients and organisations, from financial institutions to non-governmental organisations who have an interest in development-led initiatives, designed to meet the future needs of society.
Our Team
We have a strong team of advisors, consultants and technical experts who are able to achieve appropriate solutions to complex and challenging business problems
Farming, Europe and Africa
Dale is a second-generation farmer, whose family were well known farmers in eastern Zimbabwe. After graduating from Zimbabwe’s once renowned Blackforby Agriculture College, Dale farmed for ten years in Zimbabwe, before emigrating to the UK where he has held management positions with corporate farming businesses in East Anglia and Scotland. Dale has solid experience in large scale arable farming and is very familiar with all aspects of small grain farming. Dale is unique in that he has experience of both African and European farming practice.
Managing Director & Founder, Agribusiness and Forestry
Erik is a Chartered Surveyor, (RICS Registered Valuer) and Chartered Forester (ICF Registered Consultant), with both UK and international experience covering farming, forestry, renewables and tourism sectors. Erik is familiar with farming and forestry activities in both the UK and Southern Africa. He is also an experienced advisor and manager of alternative investment projects, both established projects and greenfield development projects. With his broad range of experience, Erik is able to advise and develop alternative investment projects centred around farming and forestry, both in the UK and in Southern Africa.
Sustainability
Maureen’s field of expertise is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), with BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Zoology from the Newcastle University and M.Phil from the University of Zimbabwe, where she researched systems of monitoring insect populations and the development of cultural and biological means to reduce insect populations. She has experience working with IPM in Zimbabwe in both farming and forestry and has a special interest in working with farmers to develop bespoke, cost-effective, IPM systems which dovetail with each unique farm management system.
Land Agency
Robert is an experienced Chartered Surveyor (FRICS) with wide ranging skills in the rural sector. He has extensive experience in British forestry, land management and valuation. He is a graduate of Cambridge University (MA Land Economy). He worked for over 30 years for Smiths Gore, a major firm of UK chartered surveyors, and retired as a partner in this business in 2013. He specialises in forestry valuation. He is now a partner in a family business that owns and manages property in South Scotland, where forestry, farming, renewable energy, and property letting are the main activities