Weather remains a focus for US corn and soybean farmers, as overly dry or wet weather can impact final yields. Mac Marshall, VP of Market Intelligence at United Soybean Board, shares his insights on this dynamic and trends regarding corn and soybean demand.

In this podcast with Asian Agribiz, he discusses:

• Corn and soybean harvest for the current planting season

• The main markets for South America

• Long-term outlook on grain costs

• Factors affecting grain and oilseed supply for animal feed

Now that Thailand has a new prime minister following a three-month impasse, the wheel of the economy is expected to move smoother, not that the animal protein sector saw a slowdown! The thing about Thailand is that while setting the bar for the rest of the industry in Asia, it does face challenges. But those hurdles are crossed almost immediately. When exports contract, new markets are south and when smuggling drives local prices down, authorities take corrective action.

By 2035, Southeast Asia's population is expected to increase by 12% from 670 million in 2020 to 750 million. Demand for food will grow in tandem, hence the growing conversations and emphasis on supply, imports, and waste reduction. The mounting pressure on food supply is real, given that in Asia, more than 40% of food loss occurs throughout commodity supply chains at the post-harvest level—between harvest and the consumer. So, what are the concerns in our region and how are they being addressed?

Asia is emerging as the main driver in restoring the global economy fueled by a vibrant food industry. Food manufacturers are expanding their operations and seeking new solutions to enhance the capacity and efficiency of their production lines. Asian Agribiz talks to Axel Arras, Chairman of FPT Food Process Technology, to learn about the demand for machinery and equipment in the region.

This podcast will touch on:• Trends in food processing machinery and equipment in the Asian market• Comparison between new and reconditioned machinery • Tips for choosing the best solutions for food production lines

In a surprising move this week, China chose to lift the import tariff on Australian barley- which has stood at 80% since 2020. In the peak of 2017/18, China imported 6.3mt of barley from Australia, which then dropped to negligeable levels after 2020. Why did they choose to do this? The answer- Food security.

Amid a bumpy playing field, producers and retailers are raising innovation antennas to mine market share, even as animal protein prices rise. Many are using analytics to better understand consumers, categories, competitors, and retail capabilities. McKinsey suggests that to make market-beating decisions, companies should mine insights from a combination of four lenses namely consumer understanding, category and channel value pools, competitive understanding, and capabilities to win. Our recent reports point to an interesting adoption of knowledge to gain market share.

Since several players in the Horeca industry in Asia have expressed their commitment to source cage-free eggs only, producers in the region are preparing to meet demand.

Asian Agribiz learns from Dietmar Tepe, Managing Director of KAT, the German Association for Controlled Alternative Animal Husbandry that provides a testing system for eggs from alternative husbandry systems, that shifting to cage-free egg production is "not as easy as turning the palm of the hand".

But early birds will reap more benefits. Therefore, Mr Tepe suggests that producers be brave and drive this growing trend.

In this podcast, he offers advice to egg producers in the region who plan to transition.

Indonesia has been lighting up the headlines on our website and magazines for the right reasons. With its economy focused on local production and consumption, many local enterprises, particularly in poultry, are expanding while bigger players are eyeing exports. At the same time, we see a crunch with other proteins like pork and canned fish.

The availability and price of feed raw materials continue to be a big concern for feed, livestock, and poultry producers in Asia. Hence various markets are looking for ways to ensure their local industries get the supply they need. Some, unsurprisingly, continue to turn to imports. Others look more for locally available supplies and/or seek alternative ingredients. But are these alternatives worth it?

One of the main goals of producers is to lower production costs, and bulk of these costs are feeds. With that, many are looking into utilizing alternative ingredients. But is it really feasible? Can those really be an alternative to the typical ingredients? Dr Rommel Sulabo, Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños talks about how we can properly utilize these alternative ingredients to reduce production costs while maintaining the integrity and efficiency of animal production.