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Ag trade expert: “Close the gate to the black swans”

A global ag trade expert says a series of rare events has created an ongoing list of challenges for farmers around the world.

Gregg Doud, currently with Aimpoint Research, formerly served as Chief Ag Negotiator for the US Trade Representative under the Trump Administration. He tells Brownfield while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered a number of global supply chain issues, it’s also put Ukrainian farmers in danger.

“We see where some areas have been mined, that makes the notion of getting out there with a tractor and implement a life or death kind of discussion.”

Meanwhile, as the US bounces back from challenges related to COVID-19, countries like China remain in lockdown.

“The Chinese economy is not well, and with those lockdowns we have to keep on mind we are going to get log jammed and bottled up here again with the supply chain issues.”

And he says unruly weather and natural disasters like wildfires in the US great plains, drought in south America and extreme heat in India just add to the adversity.

“Will somebody shut the gate that let all the black swans out? I think we have had quite enough black swans here for the moment.”

Click here to view the full video interview with Doud discussing global ag trade implications stemming from the war in Ukraine.