Nationalist GMO’s China is now approving two more domestically developed GMO varieties for use by producers, adding to the three it approved last year, yet it continues to refuse acceptance of foreign developed GMO’s for planting in the Middle Kingdom. Chinese (agents) have already been caught trying to steal western gene editing technology and the whole strategy is mercantilist – ensure China is not dependent on western technology for which it would have to pay royalties. Give the EU credit, while it restricts its own producers from planting any GMO’s except Bt176, the policy does not discriminate based on national origin of a trait. It is surprising that Washington has disputed Europe’s GMO approval p...
What You Need to Know Today: President Trump claimed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was over, as both sides accused one another of violating the terms of the agreement. Commercial vessels are increasingly steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz as security risks escalate following Iran...
Key Takeaways: The CME Group is launching new 90 percent Lean Beef and 50 percent Lean Beef futures and options contracts in July. There are five key factors that must be present in physical markets and futures contract specifications for futures contracts to become successful. The two l...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.