World Perspectives

Worse than Agriculture

The agriculture sector is under strong criticism for its harm to the environment. Multilateral disciplines on agricultural subsidies are considered too weak, but at least they exist. The damage caused by subsidized fishing is less obvious to the layman because it lies under the sea. One study concludes that two-thirds of the world’s 4,714 fisheries are compromised and there is the risk of a global fisheries collapse.  Like other areas of government induced marketplace distortions, there are currently WTO negotiations to discipline fisheries subsidies. The goal is to conclude something by year’s end but there are many hurdles. Countries cannot even agree on the negotiating process, let alone agreeing on what is a fish and w...

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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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