INTERVIEW 58 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2026 Chris Trant, Head of US Agriculture at Hedgepoint: “It all comes down to Brazil and Argentina’s 2026 crop. Hedgepoint Market Intelligence analyst team estimates, with normal weather and trend line yields, Brazil may have a record soybean crop of 178 mmt. Should that crop materialize without a negative impact from La Niña, the trend of large global crops keeping prices contained will likely continue in the short term.” Rising uncertainty in global agricultural markets—driven by climate volatility, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade flows—is reshaping cost structures and sourcing strategies across the feed industry. Price fluctuations in corn, soybeans and other key feed ingredients are no longer a temporary disruption but have become a structural challenge, making risk management a necessity rather than a choice for producers. In our interview with Chris Trant, Head of US Agriculture at Hedgepoint, we examine the 2026 projections and the key dynamics expected to shape markets. Trant addresses critical themes ranging from La Niña risks in South America and China’s strategic soybean stock policies to shifting protein demand in the livestock sector and next-generation risk management tools such as "Parametric Derivatives". For feed industry professionals seeking cost stability and supply security in feed raw materials, this analysis offers valuable insights into navigating an increasingly uncertain year. Mr. Trant, firstly, could you introduce Hedgepoint to our audience? What do you do, which markets and regions do you specifically focus on? Hedgepoint is an independent and global Agricultural & Energy risk management firm. Our clients face commodity price volatility as part of their business – our role is to provide clients access to risk management derivatives and tailored strategies to turn risks into opportunities. We have offices across five continents, offering over 450 hedging strategies for more than 60 commodities and currencies. Speaking from the US Agriculture perspective, our primary clients are those connected with row crop production, commercial processing, and liveNAVIGATING CORN AND SOYBEAN MARKETS FOR FEED IN AN UNCERTAIN 2026
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