LUBBOCK, TX – For the first time in the organization’s history, members of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) met virtually for the 61st Annual Membership Meeting and 18th International Marketing Conference this week.
Since a face-to-face meeting was not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, it gave speakers and attendees the opportunity to discuss how the sectors have adapted to the change, and what the world might look like when it emerges from the current state.
Jack Bobo, CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company, highlighted future trends in the ag landscape and explained that “crises like COVID-19 encourage us to think about the present when we should really be thinking about the future. Understanding consumer trends and attitudes are critical to getting ahead of the trends. It’s not enough just to respond; we want to be prepared for the problem. We need to seek voices of clarity and have a very clear vision of what we want the future to be like, but we need to be flexible in how we get there.”
Shawn Marie Jarosz, founder and chief strategist of the consultancy TradeMoves, shared trade trends, export strategies, and some headwinds and tailwinds to watch related to future grain market access and sales. Jarosz also highlighted the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying “it’s important for the agricultural community to show support for it. We have to rebuild trust in the WTO because it’s the heart of trade. It’s about a reset. The U.S. must be a leader and come back into the fold.”
(SOURCE: All Ag News)