World Perspectives

Denuded Logic; Tax Consequences

Denuded Logic A key argument by some Europeans in both opposing palm oil imports, voting against a trade agreement with Brazil, and seeking self-sufficiency in plant proteins is deforestation. Politicians are reminded that Brazil’s rainforests are the earth’s “lungs” and Southeast Asia is worsening climate change by burning down its trees to plant palm plantations. But the data appears to tell a different story.  While Brazil’s forested area declined by 9.9 percent since 1990, the EU’s tree covered land mass has declined by 14 percent. Granted, most member states have increased forested area but some like Greece pull down the average. Indonesia has had a larger decline in rainforests but Malaysia f...

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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.

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