14 Comments
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Douglas Hager's avatar

Simply an outstanding piece of writing. Why has no one commented? I must plow through the post a few more times, as there is much to consider here. Well done.

The Long Game ♟️'s avatar

The US model of privatised water rights does not travel well in Asia. Singapore treats water as national security, not a tradable asset. Instead of relying on markets, it secures supply through NEWater, desalination, and strict pricing. For investors in Southeast Asia, the opportunity is not water rights. It is the infrastructure behind water resilience: membranes, recycling systems, and AI-driven distribution.

Evan Lamanes's avatar

Just wanted to say this is an excellent Substack, have really enjoyed reading several of your posts!

peter snowdon's avatar

Very well argued! I wonder if similar structural set-ups exist in other countries/regions (Europe, Australia...).

My main concern is the last one you mention around aridification - and specifically, that climate change impacts will be unevenly and unpredictably distributed. Land is even more difficult to move than water.

Michael | Stock Spotlight's avatar

Enjoyed the read!

Linkages's avatar

Great write-up!

Investing with Hugo Engels's avatar

Wow, great piece, your post has me reconsidering Gladstone Land Corporation (LAND).

dk's avatar

Living down in the Phoenix sandbox, the hardest thing for me to put a finger on is whether or not there will be water 30 years from now. By that time, I will be dead. I wish somebody could tell me if I will definitely have water for the next 30 years.

Put Option Value's avatar

Awesome article! Thoughts on WBI?

Danny W's avatar

Every technological leap just lets us consume resources faster.

Railroads consumed steel, coal, timber.

Automobiles consumed oil, asphalt, metals.

The internet consumed fiber, power, and rare-earth minerals.

AI consumes electricity, water, semiconductors, and land.

Looking at it that way, AI feels like the latest chapter in a very old story.

Fugazi fella's avatar

I'm wondering about the water business in texas pacific land TPL. This doesn't appear to be valued in the share price.

kerz's avatar

The ENTIRE fracking boom, which some say was cunningly supported to enable the Iran war, ignores water rights.

dk's avatar

No, but the Venezuela adventure surely was about Iran