Grain under pressure: the Bunge-Viterra merger could cost farmers and consumers $2,5 billion a year The merger of Bunge and Viterra in one of the world's most competitive agricultural markets

 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 15, 2025/ -- Researchers warn of critical losses for grain producers and price increases for consumers worldwide. According to the study “From Farm to Futures: Competition, Financialization, and Digitalization in Global Grain Value Chains” prepared by a group of experts, total losses are estimated at no less than $2.5 billion per year for the main BRICS grain exporters (www.BRICSCompetition.org).

The research findings were presented by the HSE BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre during the 9th BRICS International Competition Conference held in Cape Town. The study offers an innovative approach to analysis from the perspective of global processes. Traditional antitrust analysis of the grain market has focused primarily on horizontal competition—interaction at the same level of the supply chain. However, to gain a deeper understanding of market dynamics in the BRICS countries, an analysis of vertical competition is being conducted, which involves examining the relationships between different levels of the supply chain, including producers, traders, infrastructure operators, and financial intermediaries—from the field and port to the consumer. Researchers are paying particular attention to the activities of global grain traders through the prism of the economic and technological changes that markets are undergoing today.

According to the authors of the study, the global grain market has long been controlled by an oligopoly of major agricultural traders known as ABCD+ (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus Company + COFCO, Olam, etc.). This concentration of market power, as well as certain structural features of this market, make it vulnerable to price fluctuations and various types of speculative behavior, which negatively affects both grain producers and consumers.

The merger of Bunge and Viterra in one of the world's most competitive agricultural markets—Canada—has created an empirically sound precedent for assessing the global risks of the new deal. An antitrust investigation conducted in Canada found that the consolidation of control over grain transshipment rates in Vancouver led to a 15% increase in the cost of grain passing through this hub, or a loss of $412 million annually for shipping producers. It is important to note that this is a non-market price increase. A 15% “monopoly markup” on logistics and trading, applied to 20% of the volume, could cost Russia and Brazil an additional $2.5 billion per year.

In addition, the study highlights several key trends that are currently having a direct impact on farmers, consumers and the grain trade worldwide.  Firstly, there is financialisation, i.e. the close integration of financial and trading infrastructure. Secondly, traders' financial activity is made possible by information asymmetry access to exclusive data that other market participants do not have. Thirdly, there is a new type of interaction co-opetition (cooperation in a competitive environment). Despite the struggle for profit and market share, traders jointly invest in infrastructure and coordinate control of supply chains. The report presents for the first time unique schemes of corporate relations and the participation of strategic investors in the structure of ABCD+ traders' work and management. In addition, digital platforms such as Covantis and TRACT are already helping ABCD+ traders coordinate economic activity and limit competition from national and regional players often outside the purview of BRICS antitrust authorities.

Researchers suggest that BRICS antitrust authorities could conduct their own large-scale market analysis and use it as a basis for developing coordinated antitrust response measures. Among such measures are structural prescriptions. First and foremost, the report proposes involving the antitrust regulators of the BRICS countries in the design of the BRICS Grain Exchange as a single platform where pricing will be more transparent and, most importantly, hedging mechanisms will be more transparent. The grain exchange has already been initiated by the leaders of the BRICS countries, and if implemented correctly, it could be a step towards reducing price volatility, increasing pricing transparency, and improving the quality of market competition in the global grain market.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.
SOURCE
BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre

SPACE 2025: New records on the agenda

 

The 39th edition of SPACE will take place next week, from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 September at the Parc-Expo in Rennes and will provide an exceptional opportunity to come and meet industry players at what we have taken to calling the "Animal Farming Community".

With over 1,200 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors from 120 countries, in addition to roughly 100 conferences, a platform for displaying the latest innovations, attractions for young visitors, including the Espace for the Future to provide tools for forward thinking on artificial intelligence, job-dating, Top Buyers from all over the world… SPACE is building on the success of 2024 and offering a golden opportunity for all in the agricultural sector. The attendance numbers at this year's event are setting new records in the years since COVID. Such a high number of exhibitors has not been seen since 2020, with demand for exhibition space exceeding supply and new records for conferences, debates, and organised events.

The location of SPACE in Western France—the heartland of animal farming—gives this event a unique advantage. The regions of Brittany, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire currently produce 75% of France’s pig herd, 60% of broiler poultry, 44% of beef, and 53% of dairy output. Such a leadership position, achieved through the strength of the ecosystem, the favourable climate in Western France, and the expertise of local farmers, makes this region a vital nexus for the future of animal farming in all its diversity. Artificial intelligence, which we have renamed "Agricultural Intelligence" will be central to discussions and the Espace for the Future. Through presentations and discussions with experts, farmers attending SPACE will find answers and clarifications on how they can use artificial intelligence in their profession.

In Burkina Faso, cashew cultivation is a lever for sustainable and inclusive rural development The project mobilised the necessary resources to contribute to the sustainable transformation of the Cascades, Hauts Bassins and South-West regions, with signif

 

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 16, 2025/ -- Launched in 2017 and completed in 2024, the Cashew Development Support Project in the Comoé Basin for REDD+ (PADA/REDD+) exemplified sustainable development. The project combined poverty reduction, ecological transition and the empowerment of women and young people, achieving a remarkable implementation rate of 95 percent.  It has revitalised the cashew nut industry, Burkina Faso's third largest agricultural export after cotton and sesame.

The PADA/REDD+ project received support from the African Development Bank, which granted a loan of $4 million, and the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional funding window, with a grant of $1.39 million, representing 61 percent of the total project cost of $8.82 million. The government of Burkina Faso and the beneficiaries provided the remaining funding.

The project mobilised the necessary resources to contribute to the sustainable transformation of the Cascades, Hauts Bassins and South-West regions, with significant participation from women. It enabled producers to reduce maintenance costs, improve soil fertility and structure, and increase cashew productivity and incomes in a sustainable manner.

Climate action combined with agricultural production

The first component of the PADA/REDD+ focused on carbon sequestration. This resulted in the creation of seven tree parks, the production of more than 1.6 million improved seedlings and the development of approximately 27,000 hectares of agroforestry plantations. One-third of these plantations are maintained by women, underlining the project's commitment to promoting social inclusion. A total of 35,340 producers, including 6,047 women, were trained in good agricultural and organic practices.

This capacity-building approach for producers and processors equipped each stakeholder with the skills required to meet their needs and expectations, particularly in mastering technical production and processing methods.

Adama Patrick Sombié, a cashew nut processor in Bérégadougou, confirms his satisfaction: "Before the project, there were no cashew tree parks in the village, only forest and a few orchards. When the project offered plots to promoters, I signed up and received two hectares."

Access to finance and modernization of processing

The second component of the project focused on strengthening value chains. Long hampered by limited access to finance, the sector's development has benefited from an innovative partnership with the umbrella organisation of Burkina Faso's Caisses populaires banks, alongside savings and loan cooperatives.

This mechanism enabled investment loans to be granted based on a sliding scale of interest rates, financing 103 microprojects for a total of 888 million CFA francs, or approximately $500,000. The project also created 9,580 additional "green" jobs, 92.66 percent of which were for women, by financing micro-investment projects.

Thanks to the funding provided, seven processing units were modernised. A new unit called "Tensya" was established in the commune of Toussiana, and three warehouses were built, one of which is reserved for women. The project also enabled the purchase of 12 trucks and 45 tricycles, training in good practices for 631 people, strengthening the environmental skills of 477 stakeholders, and the construction and equipping of infrastructure such as a cooking and shelling centre for women in Diéri, entirely subsidised by the African Development Bank.

An inclusive and sustainable impact

These microprojects reached nearly 18,000 people, 61 percent of whom were women, further strengthening the inclusive approach of PADA/REDD+. "This project is a blessing for us. Thanks to the income generated, we can send our children to school and keep them healthy. Before, we used to sell our products at rock-bottom prices, but now, with our own processing units, we control the entire value chain," says Aramatou Barro, a processor in Diéri.

Christiane Koné, a processor in Toussiana, confirms this postive impact: "Thanks to the project, we have been able to purchase six automatic shelling machines, which are twice as fast as our 25 manual shelling tables."

At the same time, the project structured supply networks, ensured that 96 cooperatives complied with OHADA (Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa) standards and implemented an environmental management plan. Working conditions have improved significantly. Isso Kindo, a trader in Bobo-Dioulasso, says: "Transport was our main obstacle. Today, thanks to the truck financed by the project, I can transport up to 60 tonnes of nuts from the towns of Banfora and Mangodara."

The impact of PADA/REDD+ can also be measured in terms of job creation for young people and rural entrepreneurs. In Orodara, Arzouma Zougouri, a producer and business owner, explains that "the project's support has enabled me to better equip my processing unit. I've gone from 200 to 300 employees," he says proudly.

By structuring the cashew nut sector sustainably, increasing productivity and strengthening local processing, PADA/REDD+ achieved its objectives whilst laying the foundations for more resilient rural development. Its contribution to carbon sequestration through agroforestry plantations strengthens its environmental impact. Perennial plantations, modernised agricultural practices, a strengthened local processing network and better access to finance were the pillars of this success.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
SOURCE
African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Prepare your visit to the World's N°1 Sustainable Livestock Show – Free badge

 

SOMMET 2025 :
World’s N°1 Sustainable Livestock Show
Join more than 6,000 international visitors from 90 countries to experience, in one single venue, the very best of French agriculture: carefully selected cattle, sheep, goat and horse breeds, as well as agricultural machinery, animal feed and health solutions, and technological innovations serving sustainable livestock farming.


Take advantage of our VIP welcome: free entry, International Club access, farm tours, a full conference programme, evening events… Everything is designed to foster networking and business opportunities.

From 7 to 10 October 2025 in Clermont-Ferrand (France) – your must-attend business event at Europe’s leading livestock show.

SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE opens the doors to 35 outstanding farms and agri-industrial sites: cattle, sheep, goat, and horse farms, a biogas unit, a slaughterhouse, a cattle export center, research institutes... An exclusive, one-of-a-kind programme to discover French expertise directly in the field.

 

FreshFarm Farmer’s Market

 

FRESHFARM is thrilled to partner with Union Market District to bring FRESHFARM to Union Market, which operates every Sunday through November. Located in the thriving Union Market District, this family-friendly market is the perfect spot to shop for locally grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats and pastured eggs, dairy, baked goods, coffee, ice cream, prepared foods and more! If you want to become a vendor, please go to FRESHFARM’s vendor information page.

FEATURED VENDORS // Check out FRESHFARM’s website for more information about its vendors.

2 Ladies & A Juice: Juice and smoothies
Blú-Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
la Jolie Bleue: Mediterranean Halal food and smoothies
Marcos’ Produce: Local produce including fruits, vegetables and fresh herbs
Snarfies Dog Treats
Soap to Soil
The Baked Lotus Cake House: pound cake, cookies, brownies, bars
Toimoi Bakery: Biscuits & Cookies, Cakes & Pies, Sweet Pastries, Savory Pastries
Zana Tea
Tae-Gu Kimchi


Next to Union Market (on 5th Street side)
SUNDAYS
10 AM – 2 PM

More Articles...

  1. Agricultural Intelligence at the heart of the Animal Farming Community
  2. Invitation: Sep. 24-26, 2025, CILF-China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Supply Chain Fair
  3. Tyson Foods Announces Addition of Olivia Tyson, John R. Tyson to Board of Directors
  4. Nescafé Espresso Concentrated range makes its European debut!