Venture Capital and Private Equity firms poured tens of billions of dollars were poured into shares of farm equipment makers, fertilizer companies, and even indoor vertical farms and cropland. Conventional wisdom was that these were very safe investments that would yield outsized returns as the world struggled to feed itself over coming decades.

That investment thesis has now collapsed, amid plunging global food prices and soaring farm productivity. The ag sector of the developing world produced record crops, and did so without the expensive equipment produced by major Western farm equipment makers, such as John Deere and Case New Holland.

As VC and PE firms are now seeing double-digit annual declines in cash flows from their investments into the agriculture theme, we should expect them to sell their positions, and return to tech sector investment.

Resources and links:

Deere Announces More Layoffs
https://www.dtnpf.com/agricult....ure/web/ag/news/equi

John Deere announces more Midwest layoffs
https://www.agriculture.com/jo....hn-deere-announces-m

John Deere announces another round of layoffs, this time of 287 workers in Quad Cities
https://www.desmoinesregister.....com/story/money/busi

Bill Gates Portfolio: 7 Best Stocks to Buy Now
https://money.usnews.com/inves....ting/articles/bill-g

Barrons, World Hunger Is on the Rise. These Companies Have Solutions.
https://www.barrons.com/articl....es/companies-solving

Politico, The world food crisis is about to get worse
https://www.politico.eu/articl....e/world-food-crisis-

McKinsey, A reflection on global food security challenges amid the war in Ukraine and the early impact of climate change
https://www.mckinsey.com/indus....tries/agriculture/ou

The World Is Headed for a Food Security Crisis. Here’s How We Can Avert It
https://time.com/5216532/globa....l-food-security-rich

Who Will Feed China?: Wake-Up Call for a Small Planet (Worldwatch Environmental Alert)
https://www.amazon.com/Who-Wil....l-Feed-China-Environ

Bill Gates Increases His Stake in Deere to More than 10%
https://www.rermag.com/earthmo....ving/article/2095500

Investment firms are buying more farmland
https://www.morningbrew.com/da....ily/stories/investme

Reuters, Investment funds stocking up on US farmland in safe-haven bet
https://www.reuters.com/market....s/commodities/invest

Average Chinese national now eats more protein than an American: UN food agency
https://www.scmp.com/news/chin....a/science/article/32

China factory sourcing website:
www.made-in-china.com

What does vertical farming mean to investors?
https://avisomo.com/vertical-farming-investors/

The vertical farming boom is over (for now). What went wrong?
https://sifted.eu/articles/ver....tical-farming-boom-o

U.S. Agricultural Land Values and Cropland Cash Rents Reach Record Levels Amid Falling Commodity Prices
https://www.fb.org/market-inte....l/u-s-agricultural-l

Land Report: Bill Gates nation’s largest private owner of farmland
https://landreport.com/land-report-100/bill-gates

An exhibition in central Japan showcases tens of thousands of parts, stripped from the world's top-selling models. Japanese car parts manufacturers were stunned at the advances of Chinese brands BYD and Nio.

Chinese carmakers hold costs down through engineering advances in parts assembly, and with a far higher degree of vertical integration of production. Chinese companies integrate multiple components into one part, and then standardize those integrated parts across multiple car models. This results in far fewer parts per car, faster manufacturing time, and lower vehicle weight.

Industry insiders are increasingly critical of top executives in the US, Europe, and Japan who have been blindsided by Chinese ascent and near-domination of the global car industry. Consultants and engineering experts in China have reported for years on Chinese monopolies of supply chains, engineering breakthroughs, and product quality. Yet the CEO's and top officers of legacy car brands were seemingly unaware of key developments that were upending their own industry, and which now threaten their survival.

Resources and links:

Nikkei, Japanese tear down Chinese EV’s and don’t like what they see
https://asia.nikkei.com/Busine....ss/Automobiles/Elect

Wall Street Journal, What Scared Ford’s CEO in China
https://www.wsj.com/business/a....utos/ford-china-ev-c

Small, well-built Chinese EV called the Seagull poses a big threat to the US auto industry
https://apnews.com/article/chi....na-byd-auto-seagull-

Wired, How China’s EV Boom Caught Western Car Companies Asleep at the Wheel
https://www.wired.com/story/ho....w-chinas-ev-boom-cau

Inside China Business, Ford Motor CEO visits China, sees existential threats and opportunities, and overhauls the company
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LOgURuanrU

Company page, Sino Auto Insights
https://www.sinoautoinsights.com/

Closing scene, Lijiang Park, Yunnan

⁣Welcome back, ABIBITUMI Kmtyw family!
If you're passionate about African development, sovereignty, and leaders who take bold steps to change the game, you're in for a treat today. We have an exciting update on a project that could reshape the economy of Burkina Faso and perhaps even set a blueprint for other African nations. We're talking about President Ibrahim Traore and the MASSIVE tomato processing factory that is finally complete! Can you believe it? This project is a game-changer, and in today’s video, we’re going to dive deep into what this means for the country and the region. Stick around because you won’t want to miss the details. Now, let’s start with a question: Do you think it’s possible for a single factory to revolutionize an entire nation’s economy? Think about that for a moment because this isn't just about tomatoes—it’s about independence, empowerment, and reclaiming control of resources that have long benefited outsiders rather than the people of Burkina Faso.

The United States has a decades-long problem of shortages for affordable medicines that treat serious diseases, including cancer and diabetes. But hundreds of plants in China and India are ready to supply low-cost drugs to the American market, just as they do for hospitals across Asia and the world.

Drug companies, hospitals, and clinics in the US are highly incentivized to run shortages of the least expensive medicines, as patients have no choice but to switch to more costly treatments. And regulators and inspectors for the Food and Drug Administration are highly recruited by drug companies, which reduces how many inspectors are available, and how many foreign plants can be inspected and approved. The FDA is currently short of hundreds of plant inspectors, most acutely so in Asia, which is where all the low-cost drugs are made.

Resources and links:

Drug shortages hit record high, pharmacists warn
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/....drug-shortages-hit-r

Cancer drug shortage is forcing doctors to decide which patients get treatment
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/....cancer-drug-shortage

Drug shortage can put patients' lives at risk, experts warn
https://abcnews.go.com/Politic....s/drug-shortage-put-

Drug shortages reach record high in US
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12..../health/drug-shortag

As drug shortages reach record highs, regulators weigh next steps
https://www.biopharmadive.com/....news/drug-shortages-

Nearly 2,000 drug plants are overdue for FDA checks after COVID delays, AP finds
https://www.pressherald.com/20....24/09/05/nearly-2000

The revolving door swings again as Lupin hires an FDA official who oversaw problems at a key plant
https://www.statnews.com/pharm....alot/2022/04/28/fda-

FDA's revolving door: Companies often hire agency staffers who managed their successful drug reviews
https://www.science.org/conten....t/article/fda-s-revo

US drug shortages reach all-time high: Cancer and diabetes patients waiting 'deadly' amount of time for lifesaving drugs
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/he....alth/article-1329804

Closing scene, Shenzhen River, Guangdong province

Research and Development (R&D) is a major profit center for the top universities in the United States. Besides the nearly $100 billion they earn in grants from the US government and private sources, university-based researchers create patents and inventions that generate many more billions annually.

China is the largest foreign source of scientists and researchers, and they are concentrated in the hard sciences and in engineering, where over 95% of R&D spending takes place. But since 2018, Chinese scientists are increasingly deciding to return to China to set up new research departments. Of those who are still in the US, over 60% admit they are strongly considering moving, and over half now refuse to work on projects that involve funding by US government sources.

To American universities, the loss of these scientists, along with future contributions to scientific research and commercial applications and market value, are incalculable. But losses probably already exceed a trillion dollars, given the departures of so many top scientists in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, medicine, biochemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, and quantum computing.

Resources and links:

More Chinese Students Are Staying in China to Study
https://erudera.com/news/more-....chinese-students-are

Surge in Chinese Scientists Leaving US for Home Institutions
https://erudera.com/news/surge....-in-chinese-scientis

Caught in the crossfire: Fears of Chinese–American scientists
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2216248120

Scientists of Chinese descent leaving the US at an accelerating pace
https://www.chemistryworld.com..../news/scientists-of-

Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S.
https://sccei.fsi.stanford.edu..../china-briefs/revers

Resources on the Patent Revenue Budget Model
https://financeandbusiness.ucd....avis.edu/bia/budget/

R&D Expenditures at U.S. Universities Increased by $8 Billion in FY 2022
https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24307

South China Morning Post, Nanotech pioneer Wang Zhonglin leaves US to work in China ‘full time’
https://www.scmp.com/news/chin....a/science/article/32

SCMP, The Chinese scientists leaving top US universities to take up high-profile roles in China, boosting Beijing in its race for global talent
https://www.scmp.com/news/chin....a/science/article/32

Closing scene, Suzhou, Jiangsu

Of all the legacy carmakers, Ford Motor Company is best positioned to survive the onslaught of Chinese auto brands. Ford dominates in pickup trucks and commercial vans, industry segments in which Chinese automakers are not yet competitive abroad. They are also the most profitable markets on a per unit basis. The high tariffs and import bans that are designed to keep Chinese models out of North America are of little help to Ford, but serve ironically as a lifeline to Japanese and European companies who exist only as long as the tariffs do.

But Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor, nevertheless is making huge changes at Ford based on his recent experiences in China. In a new strategy, Ford will abandon entirely its ambitions to compete in China in the passenger vehicle markets, and everywhere else in electric vehicles made by Ford's domestic factories. Instead, they will aggressively build new electric vehicle models in light and heavy trucks, designed by their engineers in the US, but produced and distributed by their Chinese joint venture partners.

Resources and links:

Kelly Blue Book, The 25 Best-Selling Cars of 2024 … So Far
https://www.kbb.com/best-cars/....top-10-25-best-selli

Wall Street Journal, What Scared Ford’s CEO in China
https://www.wsj.com/business/a....utos/ford-china-ev-c

Wall Street Journal, Ford Cuts Lightning Output in Latest Sign of EV Downshift
https://www.wsj.com/business/a....utos/ford-to-cut-pro

Wall Street Journal, A Chinese Phone Maker Did Something Apple Couldn’t: Make an EV
https://www.wsj.com/business/a....utos/a-chinese-phone

New Report: SUVs, Ford F-series, Toyotas are 2023’s bestselling cars in America
https://insurify.com/car-insur....ance/insights/bestse

Americans Review The BYD Shark Plug-In Hybrid Pickup And Love It
https://insideevs.com/news/733....031/americans-review

Motor Trend, It's No Mystery Why the F-150 Lightning EV Isn’t Selling Like Ford Hoped
https://www.motortrend.com/new....s/ford-f-150-lightni

Reuters, Changan Ford Motor to set up electric car JV with Chongqing Changan Auto
https://www.reuters.com/market....s/deals/changan-ford

Investors Business Daily, Ford's China Partner Makes Bold EV Move In World's Top Auto Market
https://www.investors.com/news..../fords-china-partner

Closing scene, Gaoyi Mountain Scenic Area, Chenzhou, Hunan Province

White South Africans Are Only 7% of the Total Population Yet Own 72% of the Farmland

Explore the stark reality of land ownership in South Africa, where white South Africans, comprising just 7% of the population, own a staggering 72% of farmland. This video delves into:

• The historical roots of this imbalance, tracing back to colonial times and apartheid
• Key legislation like the 1913 Natives Land Act that shaped racial segregation
• The ongoing impact on black farmworkers and rural communities
• Current efforts and challenges in land reform

Uncover the complexities of South Africa's land issue and its implications for the nation's future.

⁣https://medium.com/@hrnews1/wh....ite-south-africans-a


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How The West is Looting Botswana
DeBeers & Western Capitalism’s Exploitation of Botswana’s Diamond Wealth

Uncover the shocking truth about how Western corporations, especially De Beers, have been exploiting Botswana's diamond wealth for decades. This video exposes:

• De Beers' monopolistic control through Debswana
• How Cecil Rhodes founded De Beers and shaped the diamond industry
• The impact on Botswana's economic development
• Questionable practices in diamond valuation and pricing
• Limited local beneficiation despite promises
• Environmental concerns and community displacement

Learn how this arrangement has allowed foreign companies to profit immensely while potentially limiting Botswana's returns on its natural resources. We'll explore the history, current situation, and what needs to change for Botswana to truly benefit from its diamond wealth.

⁣https://medium.com/@hrnews1/ho....w-the-west-is-lootin



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Millions of tons of annual agricultural trade is now being conducted outside the US dollar, and within the new BRICS framework.

This represents a tectonic shift in global finance, as the dominant trading hubs of New York, Chicago, and London are replaced by a multipolar system of bilateral trades using national currencies and non-USD-denominated pricing and contracts.

The already huge volumes of trade in ag, energy, and raw materials are destroying price discovery in global markets. Decisionmakers and executives in Western companies are unable to see markets, nor can they know what parties are driving demand, nor which suppliers are emerging to meet that demand. Our senior-level business managers and planners are flying blind, and only after realizing giant losses we learn that we are now suppliers only of last resort: the BRICS countries and their allied countries across the world are producing and trading at prices far below our cost of production.

Resources and links:

Record U.S. Agricultural Trade Deficit Forecasted to Keep Growing
https://www.fb.org/market-inte....l/record-u-s-agricul

Why U.S. agricultural exports are down almost 20% from last year
https://www.marketplace.org/20....23/09/29/why-us-agri

Why is China canceling US wheat shipments?
https://www.dw.com/en/why-is-c....hina-canceling-us-wh

Bloomberg, China’s Waning Hunger for Grain Spells Trouble for World Market
https://www.bloomberg.com/news..../articles/2024-06-12

Visual Capitalist: visualizing the BRICS expansion in 4 charts
https://www.visualcapitalist.c....om/visualizing-the-b

Inside China Business, China wrecks wheat markets in US, Europe, and Australia. Should American farmers sell off land?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtSXC6mdchM

CME Group futures markets for near-dated contracts
https://www.cmegroup.com/marke....ts/agriculture.html#

Futures heat map from
www.finviz.com / futures

Closing scene, Dalian, Liaoning province

In a thought-provoking interview, a French professor delves into the complex dynamics of global geopolitics, exploring why and how Western powers may not genuinely support the development of African nations. The professor argues that there are economic and strategic interests at play that could be at odds with Africa's progress. He suggests that Western countries benefit from maintaining a status quo where African countries remain dependent on exporting raw materials rather than developing their own industries. By keeping Africa in a state of economic vulnerability, the professor contends, Western nations can continue to secure cheap resources while selling their own manufactured goods back to the continent, thus preserving a system that favors them. This interview sheds light on the intricacies of international relations and raises important questions about the true intentions behind foreign aid and economic policies.