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#17 Shall we tokenise a Farm? Shall we?... Let's do it!

  • Writer: Elizabeth Banjo
    Elizabeth Banjo
  • Apr 22, 2023
  • 5 min read

Tokenizing a farm refers to the process of creating digital tokens that represent ownership shares in the farm.


These tokens can be bought and sold like any other asset (like ScanSan Marketplace), and they allow investors to invest in and profit from the farm without actually owning it physically.


Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating journey of tokenising assets? Let's delve into the enigmatic depths of our psyche and turn ourselves inside out! (only joking!)


Below few step-by-steps that could help you to know what could mean to tokenize a Farm:


Step 1: Conduct a feasibility study: Well before you jump into the dark you should conduct a feasibility study to determine whether it's a viable option for the farm you are considering. This study should consider factors such as the size of the farm, the value of its assets, the potential demand for tokens, and any legal or regulatory requirements for the country where the farm is located.


Step 2: Determine the ownership structure: You need to determine the ownership structure of the farm. This will help you decide how to divide ownership shares into tokens. The structure could be anything from a sole proprietorship to a partnership, a limited liability company (LLC), a corporation or anything else your lawyer suggests you (of course it has to be a lawyer that knows about Distributed Ledger, Real Assets and Country legislation)


Step 3: Create a legal framework: Once you've determined the ownership structure, you must create a legal framework for the tokenization process. This framework should define the rights and responsibilities of token holders, how tokens can be bought and sold, and any legal or regulatory requirements.


Step 4: Choose a blockchain platform: To tokenize a farm, you need to choose a blockchain platform to host your tokens. Ethereum (and can use Polygon for a layer-2 scaling solution, this provides faster and cheaper transactions through its various scaling solutions. Polygon is built on top of Ethereum and is designed to complement the Ethereum network by providing additional scaling capabilities and infrastructure.) and Binance Smart Chain or Polkadot are popular choices for creating tokens, but you should choose the platform that best suits your needs (For Example a farm tokenization project could use Ethereum to create ERC-20 tokens that represent shares in a farm or the farm's future profits. These tokens could be sold to investors, who would then own a portion of the farm's assets or revenue stream.)


Step 5: Develop smart contracts: Once you've chosen a blockchain platform, you need to develop smart contracts to govern the token issuance process. These contracts should include the terms of the token sale, the number of tokens to be issued, and how the tokens will be distributed.


Step 6: Launch the token sale: With the smart contracts in place, you're ready to launch the token sale. This involves marketing the tokens to potential investors and setting a price for each token. Once the tokens are sold, they can be traded on cryptocurrency exchanges.

What are the Cons of tokenizing a farm:

  • It may be subject to legal and regulatory requirements, which could increase costs and complexity

  • It may not be suitable for all farms, depending on the size and structure of the business

  • It could lead to conflicts among investors if there are disagreements over how the farm should be run or how profits should be distributed (therefore the contracts have to be written by a professional lawyer)

Benefits of tokenizing a farm:

  1. Access to Capital: Tokenization can be an efficient way to raise capital for a farm without taking on debt or selling equity. It enables the farm to bypass traditional financing methods such as bank loans, which can be difficult to obtain or come with unfavourable terms.

  2. Fractional Ownership: Tokenization allows investors to buy fractions of ownership in the farm, making it easier for small investors to participate in the farm's success. Fractional ownership can also help spread the financial risk, which can be beneficial for the farm owners and investors.

  3. Liquidity: Tokenization can create a liquid market for farm ownership, making it easier to buy and sell ownership shares. Token holders can trade their tokens on a cryptocurrency exchange, which increases the potential investor pool and provides more flexibility to investors.

  4. Transparency: The blockchain technology that underlies tokenization offers transparency in ownership and management. This can increase investor confidence and trust in the farm's operations.

  5. Increased Value: Tokenization can potentially increase the value of the farm by providing an alternative investment opportunity. Investors may be willing to pay a premium for a stake in a profitable farm, especially if it has unique features such as sustainable agriculture practices or an innovative business model.

  6. Trading Carbon Credit: Tokenizing a farm could potentially be a good way to generate and trade carbon credits. If we think that agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through livestock production and fertilizer use. Tokenizing a farm could create a system where the farm earns carbon credits for its emissions reductions and sequestration activities, which can be sold or traded on carbon markets. This would incentivize the farm to adopt sustainable practices and generate revenue from carbon credits.

If you want to know more about Sustainability and Carbon Credit you can read our post blog here: https://scansanproperties.com/blog/f/sustainability-blockchain-carbon-credits-a-new-way-to-go

What is the ROI


Return on Investment: The return on investment for tokenizing a farm depends on several factors, including the profitability of the farm and the demand for the tokens. If the farm is successful and the tokens are in high demand, investors can potentially see significant returns on their investment. However, investing in tokens also carries risks, including the possibility of losing some or all of the investment.


Very important to repeat this: There are no guarantees! Investing in tokens carries out risks like any other investment (please do never think that there is a guaranteed profit! It is still an investment and you can lose all your capital)

In addition, tokenization may have additional costs associated with it, such as legal and regulatory fees, technology infrastructure costs, and marketing expenses.


Drawbacks of Tokenizing a Farm:

  1. Legal and Regulatory Requirements: Tokenizing a farm may be subject to legal and regulatory requirements, such as securities laws and anti-money laundering regulations. These requirements can increase costs and complexity, and failure to comply with them can lead to legal consequences.

  2. Unsuitable for All Farms: Tokenization may not be suitable for all farms, depending on their size and structure. Smaller farms may not generate enough demand for tokens, and farms with complex ownership structures may be challenging to tokenize.

  3. Investor Conflicts: Tokenization can lead to conflicts among investors if there are disagreements over how the farm should be run or how profits should be distributed. As we said previously the contracts have to be drawn by professional lawyers.

  4. Volatility: Tokenization is subject to market volatility, just like any other investment. The value of the tokens can fluctuate depending on market conditions and investor sentiment, which can lead to gains or losses for investors.

In summary, tokenizing a farm can provide benefits such as access to capital, fractional ownership, liquidity, transparency, and potentially increased value. However, it's important to carefully consider the return on investment and drawbacks before deciding whether it's the right option for your farm. It may be worthwhile to consult with legal and financial professionals to determine the best course of action for your specific situation.

Well done, I hope you leave this webpage with more insightful information for your next smart move.


Thanks

Alessio

 
 
 

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