The U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued its first regulatory guidance on genetically engineered crops in 1992 and by 1996 the first DNA modified seeds were going into the ground. European activists hated the idea. Called it Frankenfood and warned that the technology would lead to Armageddon. There is not a human disease or calamity that has not been blamed on the scientific process. Most developing countries and especially those with colonial ties to Europe also rejected GMO’s. Spin forward to today and the Nigerian government after years of rejecting the technology has approved Bt cowpeas. Cowpeas are an important staple crop that suffers up to 80 percent losses due to the pod boring insect called Maruca Vitrata. Bt cow...
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.
Key Takeaways: Export sales measure new commitments for future delivery, while export inspections provide a timelier gauge of grain that is physically moving through the export system. Sales and inspections often diverge from week to week because they measure different stages of the export pro...
Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Sri Lanka poultry producer associations say that the delay in approving maize imports is pushing prices for poultry meat and eggs higher. Producers have had to use rice for feed rather than maize due to a lack of supply, and many...
Key Takeaways: Harvest pressure is fundamentally a timing issue: supply arrives much faster than demand can adjust, creating temporary weakness that can occur across crops and regions. The intensity of that pressure depends less on crop size alone than on how quickly grain moves into the syste...
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...