Trade agreements and trade conflicts affect market opportunities, market access and competition in important ways. U.S. exporters benefit from a variety of trade agreements, some, like the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), are scheduled for review in the near future. On and off Retaliatory duties on food and agriculture products represent threats in a number of markets. Market Solutions LLC helps clients understand potential impacts of trade agreements and negotiations, and helps guide strategies to build sales in markets worldwide. Contact us to help you understand implications of new agreements and conflicts for your business, and how best to proceed.

Supporting New Technologies: Understanding and Addressing Productivity and Regulatory Promises and Challenges. Market Solutions LLC has worked with clients to understand and respond to: Customer Priorities for Enhanced Crop Traits. National and state soybean producer groups called upon Market Solutions LLC to examine the technology pipeline for new seed traits and assess food and feed industry interest, likely willingness to pay and potential regulatory and consumer market and producer challenges. Stakeholder Feedback to Guide Short, Medium and Long Term Planning. National soybean producer groups retained Market Solutions LLC to evaluate their long term plan. Feedback from technology provider partners, grain, feed and food industry customers, producers and other stakeholders was collected and analyzed to help recommend a renewed set of priorities and activities. Drones and Precision Agriculture. Market Solutions LLC assessed potential benefits of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or Drones) for agriculture in the U.S. and internationally, as well as the changing regulatory landscape. Drones, robotics and artificial intelligence are generating growing interest as tools to support productivity increases through precision agriculture and to benefit livestock producers. Increased regulatory clarity is driving major increases in commercial use, but challenges remain. High Pressure Processing (HPP) is being used to keep products fresh longer with out additives, and to ensure safety of food and beverage products and seafood. Market Solutions LLC has helped seafood processors and others examine the economic feasibility of new uses as well as processing options.

Consumer demand for Local, Organic, "Clean" and Specialty foods and husbandry practices continues to grow, requiring producers and their customers to look for better ways to connect supply and demand. More farmers are trying other marketing options including Farmers Markets, Food Hubs, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and working with wholesalers, distributors and direct with retailers, restaurants, hotels, schools and others. Explosive growth in demand for local, natural and organic products is presenting challenges in supplying these products. This has led to longer supply chains, food safety challenges and more interest among consumers and the distributors, retailers, and restaurants who supply them in knowing where their food comes from, how they can be sure it is safe, how it is raised and the impact on the environment of delivering it from farm to table. Consumer and technical research on topics from animal welfare to carbon footprints, sustainability and even water footprints sometimes result in surprising impacts on markets food and agriculture products. As food distribution and retailing become more concentrated, and concerns with food safety and security lead to more stringent supply chain requirements, the challenge faced by agricultural producers in supplying consumers interested in local products are increasing. Market Solutions LLC has worked with clients on projects to help preserve local crop and livestock industries, and support sales of local products through farmers' markets, chain and specialty retailers and distributors, and a variety of hotel, restaurant and institutional foodservice outlets.

The U.S. – Japan trade agreement is welcome news to many in U.S. food and agriculture , but companies need to understand how best to take advantage of new opportunities and meet new competitive challenges once the agreement is ratified. The agreement comes after the United States withdrew from the 12 nation Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, leaving the other 11 member countries, including Japan and Vietnam, to launch the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP or TPP-11) without the U.S. China has reached agreement on its own 15 country regional trade pact (RCEP) aimed at providing new leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. Market Solutions LLC has helped clients understand potential opportunities and challenges from numerous trade agreements and barriers.

Commercial use of Drones, also called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), is generating substantial interest as a technology that can help increase productivity through support for precision agriculture. With new FAA Part 107 regulations expected to lead to a major increase in Commecial UAV use in the United States and new rules in Turkey, the American Turkish Council and Turkey U.S. Business Council asked Market Solutions LLC to provide a briefing on the issues and opportunities for U.S.- Turkey Cooperation. A copy of the presentation is available in the news section of the web site. Market Solutions LLC is also examining opportunities for robotics and artificial intelligence in food and agriculture.

India’s 2018 economic growth, at 7.3%, is projected to surpass China’s, at 6.6% for the first time. India’s expansion is expected to continue, with growth at 7.4% in 2019 vs. 6.2% in China. Although the IMF recently cut projected 2018 and 2019 global economic growth forecasts as a result of trade conflicts and other factors. Market Solutions LLC has extensive experience in India, China and worldwide providing research based strategy support to help clients take advantage of full advantage of market growth and prepare for challenges and competition where growth slows.

India's Growth Rate is Expected to Surpass China's for the first time in 2018. Prime Minister Modi's efforts to create a more modern and transparent economy appear to be paying off. The IMF expects 7.4% growth in 2018 in India and 6.6% growth in China. Middle class India's growing incomes are rapidly pushing up domestic demand and prices for a variety of premium food products. India has more than 1.2 billion people, half under age 25. India's middle class tripled over the last five years, and is expected to double again by the end of the decade. Modern food shopping and food service are increasing in both urban and rural India, introducing new opportunities for local manufacturing and trade despite many challenges. Market Solutions LLC has long experience supporting clients in both India and China, working with clients to understand the markets, challenge trade barriers, achieve market access and build business.

Turkey is currently struggling with a range of challenges. It also presents numerous opportunities for trade and investment, with 76.7 million people, half under age 30, and as a potential gateway to 1.5 billion consumers in Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa. OECD previously forecast that Turkey would become the world’s third fastest growing economy after China and India. Turkish growth actually exceeded the IMF forecast, recovering from 3.2% in 2016 to 7.4% in 2017. Growth has slowed to 3.5 % in 2018 and is expected to be below 1% during 2019, before starting to recover. Market Solutions LLC has long experience working in Turkey, providing research-based support for trade and investment. Among Turkey's goals are to become a top five world agricultural economy and a top ten economy overall. It also seeks to double dairy and meat production by 2023.

A Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). What would it mean for food and agriculture in the United States, European Union (EU) and EU Candidate Countries, such as Turkey? What are likely opportunities and challenges for specific industries and companies? The EU is proposing to eliminate tariffs on 96% of trade and provide increased import quotas for sensitive products like beef, pork and poultry if the U.S. will reciprocate. The U.S. and EU already account for nearly half of world GDP and 30 percent of world trade. Both are looking for a potential agreement that could enhance growth, jobs and competitiveness by addressing market access; regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers; and rules, principles, and new cooperation to address shared global trade challenges and opportunities. Market Solutions LLC has examined agricultural and trade policy issues for clients in many parts of the world. Our findings have been used to better understand issues, opportunities and threats, accomplishments and unintended consequences of reform, and options for improvement.

U.S. Free Trade Agreements with South Korea and Colombia are now in effect, opening a variety of new business opportunities. Negotiations continue for a Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)and other agreements. Market Solutions LLC works with clients to understand market opportunities and challenges from these and other agreements. Contact us for information on services to understand market opportunities and challenges and help develop your strategy to increase export sales.

What's Behind Commodity Price Volatility and Price Basis? The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and U.S. Congress have sought to better understand factors contributing to increased volatility of futures market contracts for a number of agricultural commodities. Substantial increases in commodity price levels as well as price basis, the difference between cash prices and prices of nearby futures contracts, are often blamed by some on speculation by hedge and index funds, government support for biofuels, energy prices, exchange rates and a variety of other factors. Proposed legislation and new regulations aimed at limiting speculative positions in futures and increasing transparency of swaps and other off-market transactions could have important impacts. Market Solutions LLC has examined these issues from a number of perspectives, including in-depth analysis of the changing role of transportation options in price basis for soybeans in different parts of the country, and the role that rail transportation costs have been playing in widening basis. (Visit our Newsroom for more details.)

The United States has lost 4.3% of its farms since 2007. According to findings of the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the U.S. had 2.1 million farms in 2012, about the same as is 2002, after an increase in 2007. Losses are primarily in medium sized farms, while numbers of small and large farms have remained stable. Farmers continue to get older, but also more diverse. Clients call on Market Solutions LLC to provide insights into the changing face of agriculture in order to better understand business opportunities and challenges, and how best to address them.