Miller Magazine Issue: 140 August 2021

26 MILLER / august 2021 NEWS Following on from Switzerland’s chairmanship, the International Grains Council has appointed Mr. Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, Trade Representative of Ukraine as its Chairperson for 2021/22. During its chairmanship, Ukraine is particularly in- terested in working with the Secretariat and IGC’s members to increase market information and trans- parency and trade cooperation in the global grains, oilseeds and rice markets which is essential in times of market uncertainty. In line with its agreed medium-term priorities, the IGC Secretariat is aiming to finalize its model-based global supply and demand balances for grains-based ethanol, to increase its analysis and reporting on world biofuel sectors and feedstock utilisation. Ukraine is also inter- ested in promoting dialogue between governments on grains trade policies and increasing the IGC’s membership as well as a greater cooperation between the public and private sectors, to enhance the resilience of the global trade and food systems. The Secretariat will support the chair’s efforts by continuing to organise regular webinars between the public and private sectors on the main issues affecting the grains value chain during his chairman- ship. On his appointment Mr.Kachka said “Our com- mon goal is to develop further engagement with all the major producers and consumers of grains. The commodities within the scope of the IGC are funda- mental for global food security and food systems. We will try to ensure open and regular information sharing and ex- change of views among the members of IGC. I will also support the involvement of other international organisations and relevant con- sumers and producers of grains in the work of the Council.” Taras Kachka appointed Chairperson of the International Grains Council for 2021/22 Cargill has finalized its commitment to become themajority (51%) shareholder of its joint venture Neptune. The deep water port ter- minal in the Odessa region of the Black Sea provides Ukrainian farmers with highly competitive access to global grain markets, enabling them to further increase their crop production. The com- mitment marks a significant milestone to finalize a project which started in 2016 when Cargill and its local partners, Andrey Stavnit- ser and Yegor Grebennikov, signed an agreement to construct a terminal in Port Yuzhni, since renamed Port Pivdennyi. The terminal was constructed by MV Cargo and became operational in 2019. Neptune offers modern equipment that meets the highest stan- dards. With technical trans-shipment capacity of around 5 million tons of grain per year, it is one of the largest infrastructures of this type in the region and is able to load all the different grains and oil- seeds exported from Ukraine. Neptune has a deep-water berth of 16 meters to attract high tonnage vessels, connecting farmers with new and more remote markets in an economically feasible way. “The investment in Neptune allows Cargill to better leverage its operations to feed a growing population by moving crops to areas around the world where they are most in need,” said Philippa Purs- er, president of Cargill’s Agriculture and Supply Chain business in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Neptune adds to Cargill’s footprint of port facilities in the Black Sea region and confirms our intention to continue investing in Ukraine’s agricultural sector.” Cargill becomes the majority owner of one of the largest grain terminals in Ukraine Taras Kachka