Europe ran out of energy when the Russian attack on Ukraine forced it to reduce imports from Russia. Europe lacks the ability to defend itself despite Russia’s threat on its eastern border. Now Europe is reducing its consumption of meat but failing to invest in meat alternatives that could lead to further import dependence for protein in their diet. According to Food Navigator, U.S. companies have over 200 patents approved for meat alternatives while EU companies hold less than 30 such patents. Moreover, many of the meat alternative patents filed in Europe and China are by U.S.-based assignees. Americans eat 20 percent more meat per capita than Europeans and pay less for it. EU per capita consumption of meat is declining, where...
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.