World Perspectives

Right and Wrong

Half Right = Half Wrong: Economists can probably get science half right. Botanist Ian Crute this week showed that scientists can get economics half right, but then also be half wrong. Speaking to the spring meeting of Britain's Institute of Food Science and Technology, Crute correctly asserted that Europe needs to boost its agricultural productivity. However, his rationale is that import dependence is dangerous since Brazil agrees to exclusively sell food to China, causing shortages in Europe. Sellers do not like to be beholden to a single buyer; Brazil would prefer to have China and Europe trying to outbid one another for its products. Someone needs to advise the scientist that the largest threat to Europe's food security is its macroeco...

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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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