Global Food, Agribusiness and Biofuels Practice
Companies and organizations operating today in the global food, agribusiness and biofuels sectors face unprecedented change and volatility which present risks and opportunities which include but are not limited to:
- rapid innovation in new technologies (genomics) supported by an explosion in distributed informatics capabilities;
- consolidation of industry players across the value chain;
- globalization of trade promoted by political pressures to reduce trade barriers;
- rising and volatile energy prices;
- the prospect of dramatic climate change;
- heightened concerns over food security (supply and quality);
- logistics bottlenecks due to inadequate or deteriorating transportation infrastructures;
- demographic explosion in the developing world placing demands on food, feed, fiber and fuel;
- aging populations in the developed world placing a premium on health and wellness and
- diminishing resources including water (“the new carbon”) and arable land in prime crop production regions of the world.
The advisors in HighQuest’s practice team leverage their industry expertise, management experience and understanding of these trends to help leaders and senior management teams in the following sectors of the food and biofuel value chains:
- Food
- production (commodity crops, organic production)
- processing (functional and specialty ingredients)
- distribution and logistics
- marketing and branding
- retail food and consumer packaged goods
- Agribusiness
- oilseed and grain industries
- biotechnology
- crop chemicals and fertilizers
- equipment and precision agriculture
- animal feed, pet food and biomaterials
- Biofuels
- ethanol (derived from food crops and biomass)
- biodiesel (multiple feedstocks)
- clean technologies (commercialization of waste streams and by-products)
Our team of advisors work with clients to develop and implement strategies which address the challenges and opportunities they confront in these dynamic markets. Examples of engagements we have undertaken on behalf of clients include:
- grain, oilseed and by-product origination and pricing analyses;
- global supply and demand and trade flow analyses for oilseeds and grains;
- analysis of logistics/distribution/raw materials sourcing opportunities and challenges;
- assessment of new technologies in the seed trait and biofuels sectors;
- advising innovative companies in the clean technologies sector on raising capital to finance expansion and developing strategies to enter new markets;
- conducting due diligence on companies in the food, agribusiness and biofuels sectors and
- development and execution of global business development strategies (via M&A initiatives, joint ventures and strategic alliances).
In collaboration with our sister company, Soyatech (www.soyatech.com), HighQuest Partners’ advisory practice publishes market research reports and industry analyses, including a quarterly index which tracks the development of capacity in the biofuels sector (Soyatech Biofuels Index – SBI).
HighQuest Partners' unique capability is its ability of its advisors to harness their understanding of global and regional trends and pressures affecting the food and biofuels sectors to assist clients to develop and implement sustainable and winning business strategies.
