World Grain - January 2023 - 59

" It's a second consecutive drought year, " he said.
" HRW that is grown in the southern plains is especially
hit with drought conditions. "
Flagg said with Mississippi River water levels at
multi-decade lows, the USDA Weekly Barge Index
had risen to 1150 from 250. With barge accounting
for 30% of US export flows, this was driving up export
prices and adding to delays of export shipments,
the large majority of which are shipped to South
America and South Asia. This compares to the less
than 10% that generally are shipped to the Middle
East and North Africa.
" The cost of interior shipping in the United States
has gotten very expensive, and it's reflected in our
export prices as well, " he added.
Flagg said the strong dollar, elevated prices compared
to other origins, and logistics issues on the
Mississippi River would mean export constraints
during the 2022-23 season, while more long-term demand
for renewable fuels could see more corn and
oilseed plantings at the expense of wheat.
Disruption here to stay
Basse concluded that the key for
wheat markets would be " how much
makes it out of Russia, " while Rickmers
predicted grain market volatility was
here to stay.
" It all depends on the escalation or
non-escalation of the war between
Ukraine and Russia as they are the largest
players in the world grain market, "
Rickmers said.
Lepy
Looking further ahead, Jean Francois
said
technology would help
the industry reinvent how crops were
grown. He said farmers increasingly
were becoming agronomist engineers
measuring how much fertilizer was
needed to the square meter. They also
were finding new ways of regenerating
soils, maintaining yields and fighting
disease in response to more extreme
weather and higher input costs.
" Technology - genetics, new breeding
techniques and big data - will
make us more reliable and help us cope
with growing grain demand, " he said.
" Our job is to use this technology not
only to help with food security, but also
food sovereignty. "
Basse also sounded a defiant note of
optimism in the grain industry's ability
to continue supplying grains in sufWorld-Grain.com
/ World Grain / January 2023
" It's not about a shortage of
grain, it's about accessing it. "
Rowan Barbereau, senior manager, Bunge
ficient quantities to ensure global consumers do not go
hungry. More specifically, he called on the industry to
find ways of curbing food inflation and ensuring that
the 800 million people around the world that get by on
less than $3 a day can afford to eat.
" I don't think we credit ourselves enough going forward
about feeding the world, " Basse said. " We are
the ones, the traders, the millers, the farmers, everyone
that's here, we feed the world, we make it happen. "
Michael King is a multi-award-winning journalist and podcaster
as well as a shipping and logistics consultant. He also supplies
an array of corporate services. For more information,
email mikeking121@gmail.com.
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World Grain - January 2023

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