Faking it
OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best before' date.
OPINION: They say nothing is as good as the real thing - and this seems to be the case for fake meat company Beyond Meat.
Reports show it has become one of the most 'shorted' companies on the US stock market as investors fret over weaker-than-forecast sales and scepticism grows over the plant-based 'meat' boom.
Short sellers - who make money on share price falls - have piled into the stock.
Short positions on Beyond Meat shares have increased 40% since late October, when the California-based company issued a revenue warning.
The ballooning bets against Beyond Meat come amid rising uncertainty about the growth in plant-based meat: Data from the US and UK show that sales, which soared in 2020, flattened out in 2021.
Although US retailers' sales of plant-based meat grew 1.6% in December, numbers fell between March and November, taking total revenues for the year down 0.5%.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

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