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ABN AMRO BANK N.V WORLD AGRONOMY REPORT
World Agronomy is the latest addition to the in-depth monthly analysis of the agricultural commodity sector provided jointly by ABN AMRO and VM Group.
The new World Agronomy covers the following areas:
Every month World Agronomy publishes a topical news feature about an important development within agricultural commodities. Joining its sister publication Agricommodities, the new World Agronomy looks at the same topic but with a different degree of magnification and from a different angle. Between them, the two publications offer an indispensable analysis of everything happening in the increasingly complex world of agricultural commodities. World Agronomy is available free on request from VM Group.
2011
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - September. Building grain reserves – storing or hoarding: As unpredictable weather impacts on virtually every crop, we look at the role storage will play in smoothing out disruptions to supply and demand for food.
Elsewhere in World Agronomy, we look at: Japan sticks to carbon targets; Australia and EU discuss linking their carbon trading platforms; South Africa sketches out shape of new land regulations; New Zealand farmland prices continue to free-fall; Fresh round of investment in Brazilian biofuels; UK farm input costs rise 13%; Mexican food prices drop; First boardroom casualty at Sino-Forest; Guinea-Bissau looks for record cashew nut exports; Poles taunt GM sector with idea of EU ban.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - August. With farmland becoming a global asset traded like any other commodity, we look at how recent large-scale purchases of agricultural land have prompted government policy changes.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - July. As Poland takes over the European presidency for the next six months, the Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki has raised the temperature – and the acrimony – in the crucial talks about the shape of the next Common Agricultural Policy budget.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - June. In search of food safety: As the German food poisoning outbreak claims more lives, we evaluate the latest trends in food safety research and what is in store for the future.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - May. Mixed fortunes for organic farmers: UK organic farmers face a tough time while the sector continues to grow in the US. We consider how some organic producers, in Europe as well as the US, have managed to beat the recession.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - April. See you in court - The future shape and direction of the genetically modified seed industry is being determined in courts in Europe and the US. This will be a costly – and long drawn-out – process and forms the subject of our main feature this month.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - March. Modern day alchemists - The European Union has granted product name protection to its 1,000th agricultural foodstuff and has shown farmers how to turn commodities into regional brands.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - February. Water as a peacemaker - Water shortages have become a potential source of political friction and even war, but there is a growing awareness that water assets can be used to broker peace in politically fragmented regions like the Middle East.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - January. US biotech policy at crossroads - The US Department of Agriculture will rule on the future role of genetically-modified alfalfa later this month. We look at the implications of what will be a controversial landmark decision and how the biotech industry is likely to respond.
2010
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - December. Forecast for 2011 - We publish our inaugural forecast of developments and price movements in the main categories of our world agronomy coverage for 2011. Spanning subjects from climate change to the cost of fertilisers, our projections represent an unappetising mixture of good and bad news.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - November. Water shortages could cause problems for bond issuers - A once rock-solid haven for investors has become blighted by climate change, as water and electric power utilities face growing uncertainty over long-term debt.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - October. Seeing the wood from the trees - The world’s forests have been threatened since the Industrial Revolution of the 1700s but the rate of deforestation is now slowing, due to greater awareness of forestry and large-scale planting programmes by governments. Welcome to the new age of the forest.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - September. Searching for a new model - Relentless demand for food supplies and the threat posed by devastating weather mean that countries are being forced to question the suitability of their agriculture systems. Are they sustainable? Can they cope with future demand? The US is certainly one nation that oozes self-confidence about its agricultural system, but some of the country’s scientists are now having serious doubts about its sustainability.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - August. Obama throws in the towel - President Obama may not be running out of ideas, but he is running out of time when it comes to climate change legislation. Having pledged to tackle the thorny issue of carbon emissions through a tough new energy bill, he has capitulated in the face of opposition within his own party. This is the death knell of his presidency – and it may well signify long-term problems ahead for the world of agriculture, putting pressure on productivity and yields.
The ABN AMRO/VM Group World Agronomy Report - July. This month we look at the arrival of the GM Trojan Horse in Europe.