One initiative arising out of the U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit this week in Washington is a commitment by the U.S. Agency for International Development to produce later this year an assessment on the ease of doing business and investing in Africa's agriculture. Runaway Runoff The so-called "Dead Zone" of eutrophication where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico is larger than expected this year, and Ohio is going to make farmers get a license to apply fertilizer after a half million people in Toledo could not drink water due to a nutrient runoff fed algae bloom into Lake Erie. Farmers make the logical argument that they would not over-apply fertilizer since it would be a waste of money, and that fault is difficult to assign when...
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...