The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization prepared a slideshow for the G7 agriculture ministers that shows more food inflation even under the most optimistic of war outcomes (see graph below). Russian fertilizer magnate Andrei Melnichenko echoes those concerns. Crops cannot get planted in Ukraine because diesel fuel has been moved from farm machinery to war machinery. Romanians are hording sunflower oil and now Russia and Argentina have announced export restrictions on key commodities. Italy and other countries are asking if Europe’s green ambitions should be suspended due to the war, but affluent activists say saving the planet is more important than ensuring food production for the world’s poor. The G7 is worried about...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
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.