Paris Grain Conference

• Are geopolitical tensions hindering or invigorating Europe’s energy transition? How can Europe guarantee a stable, sustainable energy future?
• How has the war impacted trade in the Black Sea region? Will we see any return to normality, or will there be a policy shift towards greater regional self-sufficiency in strategic commodities? 
• What is the current political situation in France and Western Europe, both internally and externally? What does that mean for trade? 


Speakers:
Tim Gould, Chief Energy Economist, International Energy Agency
Thomas-Olivier Leautier, Chief Economist, TotalEnergies
Marc Ostwald, Chief Economist and Global Strategist, ADM Investor Services International
Moderator: David Fyfe, Chief Economist, Argus

With the ever-increasing globalisation of supply chains, Covid-19, and now the war in Ukraine, have added to the problems and intensified congestion in the movement of freight around the world, particularly the black sea, as well as contributing to higher marine bunker costs, increasing shipping costs for all maritime transport. Individuals that rely on container logistics are contending with substantial inadequacies in the coordination of containers and vessels.

• Reconsidering alternative transportation routes: what are the consequences of new trade flows on freight and trade? 
• The situation in the Black Sea is creating risk and insurance challenges which is inflating prices. What is happening on this front?
• What investments are required to ensure a more efficient and resilient grain shipping industry?


Speakers: 
Guy Hindley, Managing Director, Dry Cargo Division, Howe Robinson Partners
Will Fray, Director, Maritime Strategy's International 
Ahmed Elshazly, Economic Research Analyst, Suez Canal Authority

The effects of the war on the supply of energy and fertiliser are already trickling through agricultural supply chains, raising the prices of basic goods for nearly everyone and casting a shadow on impending crops. With fears of a global food crisis abounding, the worst is yet to come owing to an increase in prices of chemical fertilisers, of which Russia is a key producer. What will be the consequences of increased prices on fertilizer demand and productivity?

• Analysis of fertilizer affordability and availability. What are the implications of cost inflation on fertilizers?
• What is the impact on yields of a lack of affordability and availability? To what extent can organic fertilizers bridge that yield gap?
• Is now the right time to set targets for fertiliser reduction as is laid out in the Green Deal’s Farm-to-Fork strategy?

Speakers: 
Anke Kwast, VP Crop Nutrition R&D, Yara
Laura Cross, Director, Market Intelligence, International Fertilizer Association
Nicolas Ferenczi, Head of Economics & International Affairs, AGPB

Confirmed speakers:
Nathan Cordier, Grain Analyst, Agritel, an Argus Media company
Mark Jekanowski, Chairman, World Agricultural Outlook Board, United States Department of Agriculture 

• What are black sea export volumes, and how are new grain corridor routes being expanded?
• Will South America fill the current supply gap? 
• What are the consequences for the food supply to Africa and the Middle East in the short to medium term? Will there be more emphasis on regional and localised food systems? 

Speakers;
Nikolay Gorbachev, President, Ukrainian Grain Association
Cagatay Maras, Director of Trade Department, Turkish Grain Board (TMO)
Luiz Santos, Managing Director, SA Commodities
Malak Al Akiely, Managing Director, Golden Wheat for Grain Trading
Moderator: Fiona Poynter, Agricultural Lead – Business Development, Argus

• What are the projections for domestic and global demand and growth of soybeans in Brazil and Argentina? 
• What is the balance for the rapeseed market between the expected decline in biodiesel demand in Europe and the increase in Canadian canola crushing?
• How far can South-East Asian countries go in increasing the mandates for incorporating palm oil into biodiesel?

The agriculture sector is key in playing a role in aiding the European Green Deal to effectively reach its aim of making the EU climate neutral in 2050. On top of this, the Commission’s new initiative, certification of carbon removals, a certification system for carbon removed from the atmosphere. Farmers are key in making a positive impact on climate challenges and goals. Learn how farmers can sequester carbon into their soil, what the future demand for carbon credits will be, what the challenges will be faced and what opportunities will arise.

• What are carbon markets and carbon credits, and what opportunities do they present?
• What are the incentives for the industry to participate? 
• How are carbon offsets bought and sold? Looking at compliance carbon markets and voluntary carbon, and how carbon credits enable regenerative agriculture.

The agricultural shift to regenerative agriculture is not an overnight venture. Farmers need the right incentives to transition and arrange such carbon removal solutions, as well as substantial financial funds to support them in the shift to regenerative farming.

• How can carbon agribusiness contribute to future value chains and commercial opportunities for farmers?
• What is future demand for carbon credits looking like? 
• Evaluating the impact of sustainable farming with a focus on agriculture policy. How can policy support the growth of carbon farming and how can we build the infrastructure for this transition?

Confirmed Speakers:
Pedro Soares, Portfolio Delivery Manager, Hartree Partners
Ilya Tyuvildin, Head of Climate Desk, ETG
Franco Costantini, Managing Director, regenagri
Manon Vibert, Carbon Project Manager, TerraTerre
Moderator: Adam Nye, VP Carbon Markets Business Development, Argus

High energy prices have led to increased warnings of a lack of global fertilisers, which could result in a food supply crisis. Both agroecology and agroeconomics are in favour of a shift to biogas and anaerobic digestion, as its outputs help tackle food and energy security needs. 

• An overview of biogas and the global implementation of anaerobic digestion - why is it important for farmers? 
• What is the availability of feedstock to produce sustainable biomethane? How can we accelerate investment in the biomethane value chain? 
• How are farmers tackling sustainability and how do biogas systems fit in? 

Confirmed speakers:
Joao Pacheco, Senior Fellow, Farm Europe
Florian Siebert, Biomethane Purchaser, bmp greengas GmbH
Jean-Marie Gauthey, Head of European Affairs, GRDF