FAO Mediocrity: While the FAO itself makes a few valuable contributions, one of the criteria for becoming its director general is the ability to repeatedly give monotonous and meaningless speeches all over the world. Jacques Diouf flawlessly pulled off this feat for over 18 years and now his successor, Jose Graziano da Silva is quickly proving the ease of the challenge. His references to "rediscovering lost flavors" and praising minor crops can be forgiven since he was speaking to the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy. However, he repeated the politically correct, though economically flawed concept that the trend back toward small-scale producers and local marketing of "[u]nder-utilized crops ... can have a positive impact on fo...
The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is the sole living representative species of the family Anseranatidae. This waterbird is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea.[2] The species is not truly migratory but it sometimes travels large distances to find food and water, especiall...
A pika (/ˈpaɪkə, ˈpiːkə/ PY-kə, PEE-kə[3][4]) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears.[5] The large-eared pi...
Lobelia (/loʊˈbiːliə, lə-/[4][5][6]) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae comprising 415 species,[7] with a subcosmopolitan distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions.[8] They are known g...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.