Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region North African and Middle East wheat, corn, and barley importers will see more competition from Russian grains as Russia has reduced its grain export taxes to zero. Russia hopes to increase grain exports which are down by 13.3 percent in 2025. Experts say that this may make little difference due to the highly competitive world grain situation this year. Saudi Arabia had a visit from Ukrainian business and government officials to try to set up “a new strategic partnership” between countries. This was the first visit by Ukraine officials in 10 years. Ukraine is particularly interested in developing an export food and grain channel to Saudi. Saudi Arabia’s...
What You Need to Know Today: Crude oil prices extended their rally today, supported by several developments, including escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure and growing concerns about supply disruptions. The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to remove 50 perc...
Regional News Dry weather across the UK and Europe is becoming increasingly concerning for the 2027 crops as planting intentions are lowered amid dry soil conditions. Delayed sowing or establishment under adverse conditions could leave crops more vulnerable to frost/freeze events and dise...
From WPI Consulting
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.