October 07, 2011

GFMT attends the Grain Market Outlook Conference 2011

Poor weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, a tighter availability of maize and the return of export heavyweight Russia have given rise to expectations of a turbulent year ahead in global grain markets.

Nicky Barnes, editorial manager of Grain and Feed Milling Technology attended the Grain Market Outlook Conference 2011 on the October 6, 2011 at the Churchill Auditorium, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center in Westminister, London. Over 200 delegates were in attendance. She heard that a surprising outcome that maize is now the dominant leader in the grains market achieving a three percent growth year-on-year, and that supply is now unable to keep up with demand.

A look at the grains market shows that wheat outpout has stagnated, while maize and soy continue to grow. One of the reasons for wheat's stagnation is there is not enough acreage of wheat being planted around the world. Acreage is being lost to growing other crops; 75 percent of wheat in Germany for example, is for milling use only.

As well as supplying the first independent analysis of 2011 for UK crop production - and looking at the key drivers moving markets in the coming year - the conference examined the global economic environment including the impact of the EU and US financial woes and the world's seeming dependency on China to maintain growth and cash flow.

Special guest speaker Shannon Schlecht, Director of Policy for US Wheat Associates, talked on biotechnology's place in global grain markets and its role in satisfying demand for productivity gains in wheat in the long-term. Other expert speakers include: Jack Watts, Senior Analyst, AHDB Market Intelligence; David Eudall, Senior Analyst, AHDB Market Intelligence and Mark Berrisford-Smith, Senior Economist, HSBC.

Mrs Barnes found this year's conference to be interesting and very informative. Full reports of the event can be found by visiting the HGCA's website (http://www.hgca.com/content.template/0/0/Home/Home/Home.mspx).

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers.

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