If the FAO wished to accomplish food security, it would promote improved governance, land rights, the availability of inputs, credit and transparent markets. Instead, though, we get a bunch of blather from politocrats. Politocrats versus Pragmatists There were high hopes when Graziano da Silva became director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), but he has proven to be the same thin gruel as his predecessor. Last year's buzz term for feeding the world and concurrently saving the environment was "sustainable intensification," and this week da Silva massaged it into "climate-smart agriculture" to fit the theme of his green "civil society" audience in Brussels. He waxed about the need for "equitable increases in agricul...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
Key Takeaways: With the fall calf run now upon us, producers are finally getting a glimpse of what their realized profits will be for 2026. Some producers may have already obtained a strong estimate of 2026 revenues, especially if calves were forward sold in, for example, the mid-summer...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.