World Perspectives

Time to Exploit Food Ignorance

If ever there were evidence of the shortage of science degrees in America, consumers' anxiety over the content delivered by the food system would be exhibit A. The latest example comes courtesy of NPR, which highlighted the "Real Food for Kids" campaign in Fairfax County, Virginia. For background, out of more than 3,000 counties in the United States, Fairfax ranks second in the number of bachelor's degrees and fourth in the number of advanced degrees. A parent named Ryan Lonnett is quoted in the story and is exemplary of the ignorance underlying the "real" food campaign. When presented with the food ingredient "disodium inosinate," he reacts by saying, "Since I don't know what it is, I'd rather not put it in my body."Apparently just sayi...

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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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