Most nations pursue food self-sufficiency in the name of food security. This seemed silly when trade liberalization and comparative advantage promised more for less if countries simply opened their borders. But with the global trading system currently broken, current and future exporters are having to recalculate their role in the world. Even Europe, which has tried to regulate its way to a production advantage while exporting high value products is seeing threats to the scheme. Under trade liberalization, one could look at countries with the most under-utilized arable land and contemplate maximizing yields and efficiencies to see their possible future. This should remain a major goal for agriculture everywhere to reduce the overall a...
There was heavy volume exiting soybeans, which dragged down the broader market today. The lack of a specific Chinese buying commitment for soybeans undermined speculators who had placed bets on state-directed trade. But even the Chinese do not totally ignore market fundamentals. They may still...
On Tuesday, 12 May, WPI reported on an Executive Order being prepared by the Trump Administration to suspend tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on beef from all exporters for 200 days as a means of addressing high beef prices in the United States. After considerable pushback from cattle producer groups,...
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe online after this date to...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.