A few years ago, in vitro hamburgers sounded like something out of sci-fi, but they have become a reality and may hit supermarket shelves within five years. Demand for meat has been on the rise for at least 20 years, and population growth and rising incomes are expected to further increase animal protein consumption between now and 2050. These prospects pose environmental and … [Read more...] about New Food 4.0 and Its Impact in Trade
Regional Cooperation
Staying afloat? Opportunities in the Maritime Transport Sector in the Americas
In the first quarter of 2017, global trade experienced an uptick in the value of goods being traded. This rise, the first since 2014, is the result of higher commodity prices and slightly stronger demand from emerging economies. Prior to this – between the great recession and 2014 – global trade expanded robustly both in terms of value and volume. This volatility in global … [Read more...] about Staying afloat? Opportunities in the Maritime Transport Sector in the Americas
The Importance of Regulatory Coherence in a World of Global Value Chains
Most products today are made globally. The inputs used in their making come from all over the world, which means producers rely on highly integrated and well-functioning supply chains to obtain the necessary inputs in a timely and cost efficient way. Consequently, regulation designed with domestic needs only is no longer sufficient. For supply chains – regional and global – to … [Read more...] about The Importance of Regulatory Coherence in a World of Global Value Chains
Disruptive Technologies (and Ideas) for Fighting Climate Change
Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity. You don’t need to be an expert on the matter to accept this fact: scientists around the world have warned us at length about global warming, although many people strive to deny it. Farmers in Paraguay, people living in the Peruvian jungle, and beekeepers in Argentina have all noticed how unpredictable the weather has … [Read more...] about Disruptive Technologies (and Ideas) for Fighting Climate Change
Four Core Features for a Smart Regionalism: MERCOSUR Futures
We are living through a technological revolution, so does it make sense to think about integration in Latin America the way we did 25 years ago? Back then, when the MERCOSUR was created, there was no e-commerce, no sharing economy, no Internet of Things, and no artificial intelligence. Big data for logistics was science fiction and no one had heard of additive manufacturing. … [Read more...] about Four Core Features for a Smart Regionalism: MERCOSUR Futures