Event: Soft Commodities Trading Operations, Logistics & Finance Summit 2013

OLAM and GAFTA to speak at the high-profile Soft Commodities Summit next February in Geneva

Senior executives from across the global softs industry are confirmed to speak at the 3rd Annual Soft Commodities Trading Operations, Logistics & Finance Summit 2013 next February in Geneva, run by global summits organiser, IRN.

Back in its third year, The Soft Commodities Trading Operations, Logistics & Finance Summit which attracted over 100 delegates from its previous years is coming back to Geneva on the 26th-27th February 2013.

The volatile and changing market presents new demands, and the need has arisen to get fresh insights into dealing with priorities in the most effective way. With this in mind, IRN brings you an even more focused event with fresh content and sessions on 26-27th February 2013 where you can pick up unrivalled advice and insights on how to develop excellence in every part of your organisation; from building efficient strategies to reducing costs and risks across the supply chain and of course engaging your corporate responsibility towards the crucial new challenges of the industry.

Senior level practitioners across the soft commodities industry will be addressing exclusive presentations over the two days. Olam, Cargill, Armajaro, Ameropa, Louis Dreyfus and HSBC are among the numerous companies involved in the forum this year again. Through interactive presentations, case studies and workshops, their senior-level representatives will be looking at the best practices in terms of reducing costs and driving efficiency within the operations. They will demonstrate in real concrete cases the strategies that can be put in place to help the industry embrace effective approaches to challenges such as sustainability, integration of developing countries, keeping up with the logistical and legal aspects, risk management across the supply chain as well as human and resource asset development.

‘Jagdish Parihar, Managing Director, Natural Fibers Division, Olam International Ltd’ will be discussing the Long term future of agricultural commodities and the key challenges.

‘Pamela Kirby Johnson OBE, Director General, GAFTA’ will be discussing Warehousing - Assessing effective measures and practices in quality control, standards and certification challenges.

Financial institutions and commodity finance specialists will also have a look at the implications of the Eurozone crisis on the industry.

The summit is a must-attend event for professionals involved in the soft commodities trading industry, whether they deal with rice, cocoa, cotton, sugar, coffee or grains.

It is a critical point to bring the key players in the industry together once again. SCT 2013 has been designed to allow discussions, benchmarking and networking.

More information...

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.

China redrawing the global food landscape

20 years ago China abandoned its soybean self-sufficiency drive and began to import oilseed, feeding its livestock, with this move the Chinese changed the industry. Well its about to happen again with corn, in the near future China will triple its corn purchases. This will have an effect on the global market, at present Japan is the worlds biggest corn importer, farmers will start to plant more to cope with demand also the amount of corn used for biofuels could start to shrink. Read more ...

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.