U.S. officials are headed to Kenya to resume free trade negotiations and while there they ought to talk about the source of Nairobi’s food insecurity this year – its ban on GMO maize. Sub-Saharan corn and wheat production have been generally outpacing the region’s growing population. Over the past dozen years, population growth has averaged 2.45 percent while corn production has grown by an average 3.28 percent and wheat by 3.99 percent. However, the most recent crops have maize production expanding by .82 percent and wheat declining by 2.6 percent. Kenya normally imports corn from Tanzania, which is experiencing a shortfall in production. South Africa has surplus exportable corn, but 80 percent of it is GMO, a tech...
What You Need to Know Today: Markets got a surprise with a corn yield of 181.2 bushels/acre in the October WASDE, above the average estimate of 177.6 bushels/acre and up from USDA’s September estimate of 178.5 bushels/acre. Although stronger demand is expected to absorb some of the addit...
The USDA has lowered its 2026 red meat production forecasts slightly while forecasting a slight increase in broiler production. Beef is now projected at 24.802 billion pounds, 75 million pounds less than in September. Cow slaughter is expected to be up; however, this will be offset by lower ste...
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.