ENGLAND – The International Grains Council (IGC) has appointed Anita Katial, the incoming Agricultural Counsellor for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, as the Chairperson for 2023/24, World Grain has reported.
This was revealed during the International Grains Council (IGC) that concluded its 58th IGC Council Session on June 14, 2023.
The session also highlighted predictions for the 2023/24 season, which include an expansion in grain production, a rise in soybean output, and the potential challenges and opportunities in the global food supply chains.
Mr. Hamed Oussama Salhi, First Secretary (Agriculture) at the Embassy of Algeria in London, was also appointed as the Vice-Chairperson for the same period.
Accepting the role, Katial said that she is honored by the appointment, committing to partnering with the incoming vice chair, Hamed Oussama Salhi, and the IGC team to deliver on this mission, add important tools and applications that will support its members, while also working to promote the expansion of IGC’s member base.”
According to Katial, IGC is rightly held in high regard for the work it does to promote expansion, openness, and fairness in the grains sector; supporting and improving international cooperation in grains trade; and contributing to grain market stability and world food security.
On her Linkedin page, Katial, who recently celebrated 25 years at USDA Foreign Agricultural Service expressed excitement about this opportunity to serve in such a capacity.
According to IGC, the United States is particularly interested in working with the secretariat and IGC members to further develop information and transparency on the global grains, oilseeds, rice, and pulses markets.
Additionally, the partnership will govern sound information on trade flows supports the policy decision-making process, and enhance the resilience of global food security during its tenure.
This will include creating a biodiesel dashboard and increasing the provision of real-time information on the movement of grains. An emphasis also will be put on the importance of open markets and attracting new members.
World Grain reported that the United States will host the 59th IGC Council Session and a Grains Forum on logistics and infrastructure on Jan. 23-24, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana, US.
According to the IGC, world grain production is expected to reach 2,294 million tons (mt) in 2023/24, marking a significant increase of 40 million tons compared to the previous year.
However, end-season stocks are projected to tighten further, reaching a nine-year low. Trade in grains for the 2023/24 season is projected to slightly decrease to 408 million tons, primarily due to the anticipated decrease in wheat flows.
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