The aquaculture sector has long relied heavily on fish meal as a prime source of protein in its feeds. The supply is decreasing, however, so it will need to find ways to use higher levels of an alternative if the industry is to continue expanding. Chinese Agency’s Soybean Import Forecast The China National Grain and Oils Information Center (CNGOIC) is forecasting slower growth in the country’s soybean imports in 2016/17. It is now predicting a total of only 85 MMT, up approximately 2-3 MMT from 2015/16 and well below the average annual increase of about 5 MMT since 2004. The agency also indicated that 2015/16 imports may have actually been 82 MMT or less. USDA estimates the volume was 82.5 MMT and forecasts imports in 2016/17 at 86 MMT, d...
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.