Europe ran out of energy when the Russian attack on Ukraine forced it to reduce imports from Russia. Europe lacks the ability to defend itself despite Russia’s threat on its eastern border. Now Europe is reducing its consumption of meat but failing to invest in meat alternatives that could lead to further import dependence for protein in their diet. According to Food Navigator, U.S. companies have over 200 patents approved for meat alternatives while EU companies hold less than 30 such patents. Moreover, many of the meat alternative patents filed in Europe and China are by U.S.-based assignees. Americans eat 20 percent more meat per capita than Europeans and pay less for it. EU per capita consumption of meat is declining, where...
What You Need to Know Today: Early Tuesday, the U.S. Energy Secretary said vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is rising in a “very meaningful way.” Tuesday afternoon, however, President Trump said Iran shot down a U.S. helicopter while it was patrolling the Strait of Hormu...
Miscellaneous Initial excitement over China’s pledges to buy American farm products has faded, as no purchases have immediately materialized. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said he is confident that China will meet its purchase commitments from the U.S., but market conditions and tra...
Beef packer margins were essentially unchanged at -$201/head last week as a modest increase in the Choice cutout was offset by steady fed cattle prices. The cutout edged higher to $392/cwt while fed cattle prices held near $257/cwt, leaving packer spreads largely unchanged. Margins remain deepl...
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.