MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS: Egypt intends to expand its wheat planting area this year by about 20 percent to 3.74 million acres. The government hasn’t specified where the additional land will come from (as it would if this involved newly-reclaimed desert land), so the increase would presumably replace other agricultural crops. There was a meeting in Cairo of officials from the FAO, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank and several ministries of the Egyptian government to discuss investment opportunities in the country’s agriculture sector. In addition, producers’ associations, policymakers and investors were in attendance. It was pointed out at the meeting that Egypt will have a...
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 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...
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
From WPI Consulting
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.