Category Archives: Genetic Engineering

Bill WhitfordLife Sciences Strategic Solutions Leader, DPS Group

There is no longer any doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing biological discovery and biomanufacturing operations. In biological discovery, AI systems such as AlphaFold and the Atomic Rotationally Equivariant Scorer are celebrated for their uncanny ability to predict tertiary structures for proteins and RNA molecules. In biomanufacturing, AI systems usually enjoy less fanfare. Yet they can provide valuable functions such as pattern recognition, real-time assessment of batch quality, multivariable control for continuous manufacturing, prediction/optimization of critical process parameters, and anomaly detection. Such functions are critical to the success of gene and cell therapy operations.

AI-driven deep learning algorithms are being applied to monitoring and inspection activities that used to be too nuanced for true automation. Machine learning applications can update biomanufacturing processes by drawing on diverse data sources, and multiple AI models can actively interact with equipment or processes to realize the digital twin approach, that is, the digital emulation of physical systems. These systems provide a starting point for a true adaptive strategy.

Systems supported by AI can mimic human cognitive functions, use data from many sources (including historical and remote sources), learn from data of various types (including unstructured and multidimensional data), and accommodate new information (including empirical data) as it becomes available. Efficiency in data handling is increased by observability analyzers that distinguish between data that is valuable and data that is redundant, irrelevant, or corrupt. AI can support in silico modeling (including digital twins) and will soon be applied to varied tasks (Table 1), enabling full automation of adaptive modelbased experimental design in product and process development, as well as closed-loop control of robotic activities in biomanufacturing.

We are already familiar with self-contained devices that perform dedicated tasks with living cells. For example, weve grown to trust microbioreactors that mimic the characteristics of large bioreactors and enable cost-effective experimentation. They are supporting savings in facility space, capital, labor, media, and consumables. Now we are becoming familiar with integrated systems.

Besides replicating human activity, fully automated and integrated systems will deploy machine learningequipped robots that can iterate processes endlessly without fatigue or distraction. Many of these technologies are being applied in the pharmaceutical industry.

Gene and cell therapies reflect a range of technical approaches and production practices. For example, there are in vivo and ex vivo approaches, as well as autologous and allogeneic approaches. Nonetheless, there are commonalities that can be exploited in biomanufacturing operations. Shared opportunities include access to many of the same vectors (including viral vectors). Shared challenges include the inability to terminally sterilize products.

AI-enabled smart manufacturing is now beginning to support gene and cell therapy processing with an advanced digitalized integration of the manufacturing processfrom supply chain management to operations control to final product track and trace. It is also empowering Industry 4.0 technologies such as the internet of things; real-time, integrated big data analytics; automated and cyber-physical systems; and advanced sensing technologies (including soft sensing technologies). Finally, it is supporting the widespread application of digital twins in modeling both equipment and operations.

AI can enhance systems that are common to many gene and cell therapies and that have previously presented challenges in traditional process design and manufacturing operations (Table 1). These challenges include the coordination of track-and-trace operations in patient-distal cell processing, as well as the decontamination of incoming process materials. Yet other challenges are encountered in establishing and maintaining standards for patient-related data with respect to security, privacy, curation, storage, and distribution.

Sensitive personal information such as economic status, location, habits, gender, or race can be deduced from the bio-psycho-social context used while reviewing systems to determine the best conditions for a therapys preparation. When the therapy is a gene or cell therapy, the requirements for tools that would ensure patient privacy and data security are especially (even uniquely) stringent. We are seeing the need for concurrent implementation of AI and machine learningcentric data governance, risk, and compliance protocols, as well as for the expertise and guidance of experienced, security-focused AI experts.

With gene and cell therapies, products and practices are so new, critical process parameters are often poorly understood. Consequently, production processes can evolve even after technology transfer.

Typically, gene and cell therapies must work after just one attempt, that is, after one course of treatment. To ensure that the first attempt is as effective as it can possibly be, producers are under pressure to discover process deviationsor better yet, prevent them.

Individual patients cell samples are diverse with respect to their condition, viability, and drug exposure. This can greatly influence a samples characteristics and performance, requiring greater process monitoring and advanced dynamic control. The expected efficacy, quality, and safety of the theraputic under the gene and cell therapy framework is even harder to achieve, batch after batch, than with small- or large-molecule entities.

Furthermore, similar manufacturing processes applied by operators and biopharma engineers present critical differences depending on the specific vector operation to be applied in each batch or patient. Continued supervision is required to double-check the specificity of the particularities associated with such manufacturing. Therefore, each patient must be linked to a single batch which is manufactured and controlled by means of both singularities (specific targets) and commonalities (universal specifications).

AI-empowered process control can aid in sensing or predicting processing anomalies, correlating current performance to past experiences, and determining what measures might remediate deviating parameters. Orchestration of distributed control with centralized processing of an individuals cells or tissues will impose added processing and logistical burdens. Modern data connectivity and AI algorithms have a unique capability to maintain a real-time and dynamic picture of bio-based events. Because they can model nonlinear functional relationships, they excel at reducing model-process mismatches. Such systems can perform sensor validation, detect faults, and incorporate expertise and results from both bioprocess and control engineering.

The potential of AI in realizing gene and cell therapies is remarkable, and expectations for imminent improvements in biomanufacturing operations are high. The modernization of existing gene and cell therapy equipment and investment in digitalization are the initial steps that our industry must take if it is to followlike other industries have already followedthe path to smart control of manufacturing.

Bill Whitford (william.whitford@dpsgroupglobal.com) is the Life Sciences Strategic Solutions Leader at DPS Group, and Toni Manzano, PhD (toni.manzano@aizon.ai), is a co-founder and the CSO of Aizon.

Read more here:
The Promise of AI in Gene and Cell Therapy Operations - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Posted on 02/07/2022

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in partnership with Marsh McLennan, SK Group, and Zurich Insurance Group, released its report titled, The Global Risks Report 2022 17th Edition

The executive summary reads, The Global Risks Report 2022 presents the results of the latest Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS), followed by an analysis of key risks emanating from current economic, societal, environmental and technological tensions.

The question How do you feel about the outlook for the world? 23% were worried, 61.2% concerned, 12.1% positive, and 3.7% were optimistic.

The next question Identify the most severe risks on a global scale over the next 10 years.

Most severe to the least.1. Climate action failure2. Extreme weather3. Biodiversity loss4. Social cohesion erosion5. Livelihood crises6. Infectious diseases7. Human environmental damage8. Natural resource crises9. Debt crises10. Geoeconomic confrontation

World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) 2021-2022Dataset: A total of 1,183 responses to the GRPS were received. From these, 959 were kept, using as a threshold at least one non-demographic answer.

Respondents44% Europe15% North America13% East Asia and the Pacific10% Latin America and the Caribbean6% South Asia6% Sub-Saharan Africa

41% Business59% Non-Business

64% Male34% Female

Org Type41% Business17% Academia16% Government10% NGO

LINK: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Global_Risks_Report_2022.pdf

In the 2021 WEF Risk Report, there is an area on FORESIGHT ON FRONTIER RISKS. The 2021 part was written in collaboration with In collaboration with the Global Future Council on Frontier Risks.

Accidental warAn inter-state skirmish escalates to war as governments fail to control action in the absence of accurate information. Weakened multilateralism leads to failure to contain.

Anarchic uprisingYoung activists, fed up with corruption, inequality and suffering, mobilize against elites. AI-powered social media is exploited to spread disinformation, fomenting social chaos

Brain-machine interface exploitedCompanies, governments or individuals utilize burgeoning mind-reading technology to extract data from individuals for commercial or repressive purposes.

Collapse of an established democracyA democracy turns authoritarian through the progressive hollowing out of the body of law. A legal rather than a violent coup erodes the system, with knock-on effects on other democratic systems.

Geomagnetic disruptionA rapid reversal of the Earths geomagnetic poles generates destabilizing consequences for the biosphere and human activity.

Gene editing for human enhancementGovernments begin classified genetic engineering programmes. A class of people is born with genetic capabilities better suited for space, Arctic, or deep-sea survival, setting off a genetic arms race between geopolitical rivals with undetermined ethical consequences.

Neurochemical controlMalicious use of pharmaceutical neurochemicals aims to control adversaries. Governments begin to use these drugs for non-lethal law enforcement.

Permafrost melt releases ancient microorganismsA warming planet leads to permafrost melt in the Arctic. An ancient virus, unknown in modern science, is released into the air, soil, and water systems.

Deployment of small-scale nuclear weaponsNew technology allows for proliferation of low-yield warheads, blurring deterrence frameworks and leading to global nuclear war.

The views in this 2011 section represent those of the Global Future Council on Frontier Risks and not of the World Economic Forum or its partners.

Go here to read the rest:
3.7% of WEF Risk Survey Respondents are Optimistic About the Outlook for the World - Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute

As we enter 2022 with a bang, we created a list of Switzerlands most exciting startups that you definitely need to keep an eye on in 2022! We know that Switzerland is world-renowned for its chocolates, having the highest train station in the world, its banking fame, and so on, but its also home to a growing startup ecosystem.

After intense research and some back and forth with the team we can happily present you with what we think are the startups you need to keep a lookout for this year. All of the startups which we are introducing to you below were founded between 2019 and 2021. As signals for early success, weve been looking at factors like team size, funding, growth rate, innovation, market size. With this in mind, here are 10 Swiss early-stage startups to follow in 2021 and beyond.

Genius yield is a Cham-based startup that was founded in 2021. The goal of this startup is to maximize its users crypto yield from Cardano (ADA). Genius Yield is your all-in-one solution to benefit from advanced algorithmic trading strategies and yield optimization opportunities. Their smart liquidity management protocol is intuitive, hassle-free, and secure. Genius Yield minimizes risk and maximizes profits! So far they have raised 3.6 million.

Luya Foods is on a mission to go beyond the hype that surrounds fake meat and create an innovative plant-based alternative that is tasty, juicy, and natural. What more could we ask for? You may be asking yourself, why? Because according to Luya foods, they are convinced that in order to save the planet, we need to rethink the way we eat and use our resources today. Their natural products are made in Switzerland from reduced okara. Thus no food waste, additives, and artificial aromas. Lula foods is a Zollikofen based startup that was founded in 2021 and so far has raised 142k in its efforts to develop the tastiest alternative to meats.

RocketVax is a Basel-based biotech startup that was established in 2020. At RocketVax, they use a proprietary based method to develop new groundbreaking vaccines. Their first product was the RVX-13, an alive, single-cycle vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, which is based on breakthrough genetic engineering. Basically, this startup is involved with making very complex vaccines that are saving lives and because of this, they have raised a total of 8.7 million.

Dropz is for those who dont like the bland taste of water, simply drop in a tablet and watch the true taste and vitamins unfold beyond your eyes. A tablet that strives to eliminate single-use plastic (PET bottles) and comes with no sugar or calories, what more can we ask for? They create the flavours from the finest fruits and herbs. Through careful extraction, they obtain natural flavours, which they process into the practical Dropz. Dropz is an Eggenwil-based startup founded in 2020 and has raised 2.3 million.

Emovo Care is your go-to startup whether you have partially or completely lost the ability to move one hand due to neurological or orthopaedic injury. Emvo is a portable and lightweight tendon hand that allows you to grab and release simple objects at home. With just a simple push of a button, you can control the desired range of motion. The device has detachable components that make it easy to use and maintain. Emvo care is a Lausanne-based startup that was founded in 2020 and was developed during a Ph.D. at Ecole Polytechnique, it has since raised a modest 94k.

Autonomyo is developing the next generation of exoskeletons that enable people with mobility problems to walk again and win back their freedom of movement. They are a Lausanne-based startup founded in 2020 that too came out from Ecole Polytechnique and has raised 105k to develop cutting-edge personalized exoskeletons. Intelligent, human-centred technology is what autonomy stands for. Their mission is to develop a solution that makes a better future for movement-impaired people.

Pabio gives you the option to either rent or buy their furniture. Why pay full price for something that youre not even sure youll like? Thats why you have the option to rent it and if youre happy with the furniture then Pabio lets you buy it. Thanks to their flexibility you can design your dream house without the huge initial upfront investment and to top it off? You get your own designer to help you out! Once youve selected what you want, it only takes 3 weeks for it to get to you and Pabio assembles it for you. Just sit back and relax. Pabio is a Bern-based startup that was founded in 2020 and has raised 2.7 million.

Klapty is for when the pandemic does not allow for physical tours, thats right, Klapty lets you create, share, and discover virtual tours. Its the first social network for virtual tours, and its trusted by over 50 thousand users worldwide. If youre a real estate agent, droneist, photographer, or hotel owner, you will love Klapty since its easy, and doesnt require any technical skills. They are a Bulle-Based startup that was founded in 2020 and has raised 1 million.

Integritee is a Zurich-based startup that was founded in 2021 and has raised a total of 5.6 million in order to bring you the most scalable public blockchain solution for securely processing sensitive business or personal data. You can harness the speed and confidentiality of trusted execution environments, combined with the trust of a decentralized network. They provide a highly secure and scalable system through which companies and developers can build broader, fairer, and more secure data-driven products and services. All without compromising on privacy.

Liquity is for our crypto friends out there who just cant put together enough funds to buy the dip (after already buying the dip). But before you click over to Liquidity and get access to interest-free liquidity at your fingertips, we should add that this article is in no way financial advice, so check it out at your own risk! You can borrow LUSD against ETH at 0% interest. The only caveat? youre going to get charged a small, one-time fee to borrow LUSD. The Baar-based startup has raised a total of 7.3 million so far.

By the way: If youre a corporate or investor looking for exciting startups in a specific market for a potential investment or acquisition, check out ourStartup Sourcing Service!

Visit link:
10 super promising Swiss startups to watch in 2022 and beyond - EU-Startups

The origin of the virus, and its jump from animals to humans is a question worth investigating. Credit: Infinity Wave

Some scientists, conspiracy theory experts andmedia outlets have reacted to USRTKs sudden interest in virology by highlighting the groups ties to anti-vaccine activists. This is a clever attempt to discredit USRTK and its allies, but its ultimately a mistake that ignores what anti-GMO activists are up to with their lab-leak advocacy.

Groups like USRTK have always couched their anti-technology agenda in termspursuing truth and transparency in public healththat resonate with most Americans. They are doing this again by using the pandemic to attackallbiotechnology. Tying these activist outfits to anti-vaxxers will not prevent them from gaining support among a certain segment of the general public for that agenda, which should concern everybody in the science community.

Nobody knows if SARS-CoV-2 naturally jumped from animals to humans or somehow escaped from a lab, and we may never know for sure. But a lab leak is a plausible scenario that has been investigated byreputable voicesin scientific and geopolitical circles. Respected science writer Matt Ridley and Broad Institute molecular biologist AlinaChan may be a lot of things, but theyre not kooky conspiracy theorists andtheir argumentsneed to be taken seriously.

The real problem is that many activist groups have backed the lab-leak scenario because it comports with their more comprehensive and decidedly unscientific anti-biotech agenda. This is what the media has missed in its coverage of anti-GMO groups endorsing a lab leak. Its a controversial idea to start with,The Daily Beast reportedrecently, and US Right to Know promotes it because they have graduated from agitating against biotech cropsto providing a sheen of legitimacy for the conspiratorial musings of their primary donor, the Organic Consumers Association.Daily Beast:

Like USRTK, the 23-year-old Organic Consumers Association began as a group preoccupied with pesticides and genetically modified organisms. But as it gained financial backing from ultra-rich backers in the wellness sector it adopted their conspiratorial anti-vaccine views

Earlier this year, OCA founder Ronnie Cummins, who has also advanced 9/11 truther narratives, co-authored a book with [Joe] Mercola which purported to expose The Great Reset, Lockdowns, Vaccine Passports, and the New Normal. The books footnotes included multiple citations of USRTK research on COVID-19s origins and, in promoting the book last month, Cummins referred to USRTK as a longtime ally.

The conspiratorial leanings of the anti-biotech movement have been knownfor many years;highlighting them now serves little purpose. Our real concern should be that USRTK and others are using the lab-leak theory to spur opposition to a wide swath of important, even life-saving, biotechnologies.

Consider the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), yetanother activist groupfunded by Joe Mercola and closely linked to the Non-GMO Project. Whatever IRT believes about the pandemic, notice that their fundraising letters are clearly designed to alarm people about issues that have little to do the pandemic. The lab-leak theory is a useful rhetorical tool, tagged on almost asan afterthought:

IRT is on a mission to get the word out against the REPLACEMENT OF NATURE [emphasis in original]. Can you help us make a difference? Consider just a few applications of this new gene editing technology known as GMOs 2.0 Do any of these new technologies make you a bit nervous? Will you join us in preventing a gene edited futureand raising awareness about gain-function- research?[my emphasis]

Engineering disease-fighting insects or breeding crops suited for different environments has next-to-nothing in common with gain-of-function research,whichaims or is expected to (and/or, perhaps, actually does) increase the transmissibility and/or virulence of pathogens. While thatcould be consideredgenetic modification, it serves a very different purpose and carries risks that are unrelated to other biotech applications. Such nuances are irrelevant to IRT and its allies, though, because their ultimate goal is to prevent a gene-edited futurefull stop.

Why does this matter? There are millions ofjaded Americanssuffering from pandemic fatigue. Fed up with lockdowns, travel restrictions, and mandatory vaccines, theyre again inclined to take the anti-GMO movement seriously. Indeed, the fact that mainstream science so dislikes USRTKmight even help the groups causewith people who are enraged by the pandemic response. The science community should therefore combat the misconception that a lab-leak theory undermines the safety of biotechnology more generally.

This cohort ofactivistgroups isadept at co-opting the publics concerns. When journalist Matt Taibi suggested in April that Googlehad censored USRTK, group co-founder Gary Ruskintold him that

I really strongly believe in the First Amendment and have been concerned for probably during that entire period about when the censors come for someone, they could easily come for you tomorrow.

Taibbi was apparently unaware that USRTK exists toharass and intimidatescientists into silence. Its frankly disturbing how far Ruskins group has gonein its effortsto shut up academics who speak publicly about biotechnology: publishing their emails, writing hit pieces about them and evenleaking documentsto propaganda outlets like Russia Today (RT), which will promote the same anti-GMO agenda.

In other words, USRTK and its allies arent on the warpath against censorship, nor are they campaigning for safer virology research in any meaningful sense. But they will use those issues to garner public sympathy. Pointing out their ties to anti-vaccine activists is amusing but mostly useless as a means of expanding the publics acceptance of biotechnology.

Read the original post:
Viewpoint: Anti-GMO groups 'using the COVID lab-leak theory to spur opposition to a wide swath of important, even life-saving, biotechnologies' -...

After facing persistent budget deficits since the 2008 financial crisis, Haverford College is now operating under a balanced budget, which will promise sustainability and financial flexibility. Without having to focus on reducing the colleges deficit, Haverford will also be able to spend more time and resources on improving the college.

By effectively eliminating the historic annual deficits, the College is now better positioned to focus its financial resources to support the educational program and the community, said Mitchell Wein, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance.

Haverford has been fighting to eliminate the colleges deficits since 2014, but the roots of the problem stretch back to the economic recession of 2008, which caused the colleges endowment to drop by almost $200 million from 2008 to 2009. Because withdrawals from the endowment make up approximately a quarter of the colleges annual operating budget, Haverford has been forced to slash expenses since 2009.

The college has taken a number of measures over the last decade to reduce costs, including salary freezes for faculty and staff since 2020, investing in energy conservation, and revising financial aid policies. While Haverford previously followed need-blind admissions and a no-loan policy, both were eliminated to help achieve financial equilibrium.

The college moved to need-aware admissions in 2016 to better predict financial aid expenditures and set a cap on the total aid budget. According to Haverfords Spring 2016 Budget Message, the majority of admissions decisions remain need-blind: in 2016, only around 5% were need-aware to keep the financial aid budget on target, although this figure has risen in recent years.

These measures have contributed to the attainment of a breakeven budget this fiscal year, yet they have received sizable criticism from students. Many believed that these actions, specifically the move to need-aware admissions, would reduce socio-economic diversity and disadvantage low-income applicants. [Need-aware] goes directly against what the college is about, and any Quaker values this institution theoretically aligns itself with, said student Andy Beck 17 in a 2016 article for The Clerk.

According to Wein, the budget process aimed to preserve the colleges values while striving towards financial equilibrium, focusing first on the academic program and the student experience, he said. The College initiated a number of strategies which would not have a negative impact on Haverford and our values. Much of it was done in areas other than those that affect the day-to-day student experience.

The budget was planned to reach a breakeven status in the 2019-20 fiscal year but was disrupted by the unexpected expenditures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-21 fiscal year also saw decreases in revenue, due to fewer students living on campus and participating in meal plans, as well as additional expenses from COVID-related safety measures. The college responded by reducing operating expenses and faculty and staff compensation in order to reach a balanced budget. Haverford attempted to decrease the impact of pandemic-related expenditures by eliminating the salary increases, cutting pay for senior staff, freezing hiring, and reducing retirement plan contributions, as stated in the FY 2020-21 Mid-Year Operating Budget Recap.

Given that the colleges endowment rose by 32.1% this year, Haverford has the ability to provide raises for faculty and staff once again. Even while operating under a balanced budget, the college has at least an additional $8 million to spend, assuming it chooses to keep the endowment draw rate constant.

Economics professor Giri Parameswaran stressed the importance of improving employee compensation. If we balance the budget by compensating employees below competitive levels, that will produce its own negative impact. Well find it difficult to attract and retain top quality workers as they are lured away by higher paying jobs, he said. This may lead to greater faculty and staff turnover, as well as increased job dissatisfaction among the current employees. All of these are costs that weigh on the institution, but dont appear in the bottom line, added Parameswaran.

As of now, the 202223 fiscal year budget planning is underway, with budget requests currently under review for the next academic year.

Originally posted here:
Haverford Reaches First Balanced Budget Since 2008 Financial Crisis - The Clerk

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Food Service Industry - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Food Service Industry Market to Reach US$4.1 Trillion by the Year 2026

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Food Service Industry estimated at US$3 Trillion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.1 Trillion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% over the analysis period. Full Service, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 5.5% CAGR to reach US$1.5 Trillion by the end of the analysis period.

Foodservice involves making, serving and selling of ready-to-consume foods and drinks or providing catering services to public or private end consumers either by in-house or external operators. As such, foodservice accounts for about 45%-50% of total spending on food in the US, while the percentage in lesser-developed markets can be in the range of 10%-15% or less of total spending on food.

The main contributors to growth in the industry include socio-economic conditions, such as high disposable income, busy and increased mobile life, rise in outsourcing of non-core activities by companies and market expansion into new areas such as transport and retail. Some other factors that can influence the market include tourism, immigration, food variety, access to food service places and technological advancements as in Internet through online ordering.

A major growth of food service industry is expected as food service operators are encouraged to invest more in eco-friendly and energy efficient equipment to meet the changing needs. Though the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected operations in the overall food service industry including that of fast food facilities and QSRs, long term prospects remain positive, presenting considerable opportunities for the food service market.

After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Fast Food segment is readjusted to a revised 6.5% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 28.1% share of the global Food Service Industry market. Full service restaurants (FSRs) are joining the takeaway bandwagon. An increasing number of FSRs are offering takeaway options.

Moreover, restaurants are developing new menus for takeaways rather than serving the dine-in menu in the takeaway segment. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), also known as fast food restaurants, are establishments that are involved in serving fast food and have minimal table services. The convenience and economical foods and time and cost savings are fueling growth in the QSRs market. The rapid growth of the online delivery and home delivery markets, driven by growing consumer desire for home delivery of foods, is also driving growth.

Limited Service Segment to Reach $864.6 Billion by 2026

In the global Limited Service segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 3.4% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$517.9 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$664.2 Billion by the close of the analysis period.

China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$116.9 Billion by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 4% CAGR through the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $800.1 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $776.9 Billion by 2026

The Food Service Industry market in the U.S. is estimated at US$800.1 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 25.1% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$776.9 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 7% through the analysis period.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.1% and 4.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.2% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$825.7 Billion by the end of the analysis period.

Key Topics Covered:

I. METHODOLOGY

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS (Total 200 Featured)

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. REGIONAL MARKET ANALYSIS

IV. COMPETITION

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ee5r0x

Read the original:
Global Food Service Industry Market Report 2021: Amid the COVID-19 Crisis - The Market was Estimated at $3 Trillion in 2020 and is Expected to Reach a...

Join News24s Africa Desk, the Institute for Security Studies and the Hanns Seidel Foundation in a discussion with African analysts about major upcoming developments and events on the continent.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit African economies hard.

However, the recently launched African Continental Free Trade Area offers an opportunity to boost intra-African trade, helping to overcome the recession and recover from the devastating economic impact of Covid-19.

A consistent rollout of vaccination programmes could curb the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19 but could also revive travel and tourism in Africa, provided there are no further international travel restrictions.

The upcoming European Union-African Union (AU) summit in February and the COP27 climate summit in Egypt are opportunities to call for more investment and job creation in Africa and to further align Africa's priorities with those of its international partners.

With this in mind, News24's Africa Desk, together with the Institute for Security Studies and the Hanns Seidel Foundation, is organising a discussion with African analysts about significant upcoming developments and events on the continent in 2022.

Will the African Union step up its efforts to develop an effective conflict prevention, conflict management, and peacekeeping strategy?

Given its own political and socio-economic challenges, what role can South Africa play to promote peace and economic development in the region?

What are the opportunities for international cooperation, and what needs to be done to improve Africa's development trajectory further?

To answer these and other questions, join us for a discussion onThursdayat12:00.

Join News24's Africa Desk journalist Lenin Ndebele; executive director for the Institute for Security Studies, Dr Fonteh Akum; executive director at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Professor Cheryl Hendricks.

Liesl Louw-Vaudran, a senior researcher and project leader for Southern Africa at the Institute for Security Studies, will moderate the conversation.

To follow the live conversation, register here.

Did you know you can listen to articles? Subscribe to News24 for access to this exciting feature and more.

See the original post:
WATCH | Africa in 2022: Prospects and challenges - we unpack these on Thursday at 12:00 - News24

There's probably no other topic garnering more attention right now than inflation. In categories ranging from used cars to housing and gas to food, soaring prices are everywhere. And these increases are hurting many consumers, particularly those at the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum.

There's no doubt that the unexpected surge in consumer demand following the pandemic, at a time when supply chains were not functioning at full capacity, probably is the main culprit of the current situation. Investors are likely wondering what the best course of action is in order to benefit from this trend.

If you're worried about the threat of inflation, there's a worthwhile asset to allocate a small percentage of your portfolio to: Bitcoin(CRYPTO:BTC).

Image source: Getty Images.

It's worth taking a step back to understand why inflation exists. The constant devaluing of currency is a policy tool used to encourage consumers to spend. In a deflationary environment, on the other hand, consumers would just wait to buy goods and services because they expect prices to go down over time.

Deflation can lead to lower sales and profits for companies, which would cause employee layoffs, decreasing consumer spending, and ultimately a shrinking economy. Obviously, this scenario should be avoided, so a minimal amount of inflation is used to spur growth. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve targets an annual inflation rate of 2% over the long term, a figure monetary policy makers believe leads to a healthy economy.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Fed pumped an unprecedented amount of money into the economy to quickly get the country out of a recession. Other major economies, including the European Union and Japan, reacted in a similar way. The result is the inflation that we're seeing right now.

What if there was an asset out there that allowed investors to essentially sell shortall the massive money printing happening across the globe? Luckily, there is.

Bitcoin is an excellent investment, especially since owning it means betting against the world's fiat currencies. This is because the amount of Bitcoin in circulation will decrease relative to every other currency out there. There will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin mined, and it's etched in the blockchain's code, so no one can tamper with it.

The M2 money supply, which is all money held in checking and savings accounts in the U.S., jumped significantly in the spring of 2020, and it has risen a lot since then. Based purely on this dynamic, where there will simply be a perpetually growing amount of dollars relative to the fixed supply of Bitcoin,the crypto's value should appreciate as time passes.

When you view Bitcoin in this light, it's easy to see why proponents of the world's most valuable cryptocurrency are so supportive of it. Institutions are also beginning to view Bitcoin as a legitimate store of value. There are Bitcoin exchange-traded funds on the market. And large corporations like Block(formerly Square), MicroStrategy, andTesla are allocating portions of their balance sheets to Bitcoin and away from cash. Iexpectthis trend to continue.

If an individual not only maintains but increases their purchasing power over time by owning a particular asset, that asset is a solid place to invest if inflation is high. How has Bitcoin performed in this regard? The world's most valuable cryptocurrency has skyrocketed 39,000% in value from May 2013 (the earliest data provided by Coin Market Cap) to Jan. 20, trouncing any other financial asset's performance during this period. Meanwhile, inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, has increased 23.3%over the past decade.

Clearly, there hasn't been a better investment to own in general, let alone if you're worried about inflation, than Bitcoin. Although the volatility is difficult for most people to stomach, I think it makes sense to allocate 1% of your portfolio to Bitcoin.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

See the original post:
Where to Invest in 2022 If You're Worried About Inflation - Motley Fool

By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi

Similar to history, which according to historians, is an unending dialogue between the present and the past through a continuous process of interaction between the historian and his facts to assist the anxious enquirer improving the present and future based on a clearer understanding of the mistakes and achievements of the past, the conversion on electricity power supply challenge in the country has like history, become neither unending nor abating.

Essentially, the first half of this recurring circle was captured recently in my piece titled FGs Assurance on Generation of 25,000MW Electricity, as it explains why Nigerians are no longer comfortable with assurances from the federal government, the present piece which qualifies as the beginning of something new was elicited as a response to a declaration by Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesperson.

Shehu, who spoke in an interview on a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, among other things stated; that President Muhammadu Buhari has greatly improved electricity generation in the country, he concluded.

Lets face the fact; he spoke convincingly with actual authority that flows from the position that he occupies. However, the only difference here is that, unlike history, his run on fact, particularly his fervent belief that the outlook of the nations electricity remains good, in the face of the current epileptic power supply and unjustifiable high tariff regime in the country, has not in any way advanced our conversation on or assisted the nations quest to find a quick solution to its electricity/energy crisis.

Lets face the fact; it is true that the 2005 Power Reform Act (EPSR, ACT of 2005), which provided for the privatization of the power sector did not go far before President Olusegun Obasanjo administration left office in 2007. Yes, it is also true in parts that the present frustration in the sector was further fed by the reality that the current federal government as noted by Garba Shehu during the interview, inherited reckless privatization of the power sector done by the Goodluck Jonathan administration (the roadmap for power sector reform of 2010), Despite the validity of these claims, yet, Shehus analytics for reasons did not go without opposition.

First, enough evidence supports the fact that no administration in the country, not even the present Muhammadu Buhari led federal government can boast of clean hands when it comes to Nigerias electricity crisis.

Without going into analysis to establish how culpable each of these administrations appears in this case, one point, in my view, that mustnt be overlooked when discussing the power/electricity crisis in Nigeria is that the challenge has nothing to do with privatization. It is neither fuelled by the desire to fashion an authentic roadmap for restoring the health and vitality of the sector nor is it the function of the current effort to bring about a new tariff regime.

Rather, its simply and squarely a conceptual problem of what successive federal government has been doing which has never been in the best interest of the people, the nation and the sector.

Very fundamental of the challenge is the operation of the obsolete grid system, an arrangement where the power generated in the country is pooled/assembled or channelled to a control/switch centre before it is finally distributed to consumers across the nation.

Aside from qualifying as a clumsy arrangement and operated in an environment laced with outmoded transmission lines and facilities that cannot hold supplies over time, the practice itself, going by what industry watchers are saying, is not only out-fashioned, old-schooled but visibly runs contrary to the global vision/model which presently favours decentralization of energy generation and distribution.

In my view, energy/power centralization has never assisted the socio-economic development of any nation desirous of making headway industrially.

There exist yet another frustration, this time around fuelled by painful consciousness that instead of acting as energy sector regulator, successive administrations for yet to be identified reasons choose to function in the nations power sector as both captain and coach,- owning shares in Gencos, Discos and TCN.

This state of affairs occurred in spite of part breaking studies that suggest that the private sector is likely to better understand the location and nature of market failures/bottlenecks/barriers that inhabit the energy sector.

It was also argued elsewhere that the government capacity to design and execute an appropriate resolution of identified market failure/bottlenecks is the sector is often always laced with controversy.

From this unrelenting failures/failings on the part of policymakers to define the business of power generation and distribution in the country and lack of clear strategy for penetrating it profitably, or allow conventional market forces to determine electricity tariff regimes in ways that will lead to the realization of economic rights of the investors while expanding fundamental freedoms and choices of the individual consumers; and with government, unwillingness to follow swiftly, the changing needs of time, which of course are the sufficient ingredients of foresighted decision making and condition that every leader desirous of success must constantly fulfil, it obvious that the nations handlers have finally left the survival of the sector to chance.

As we know, anyone that fails to search for his potential leaves his survival to chance

Again, it is weak regulations and untidy oversight such as these, that largely promotes a situation where according to a commentator, an electricity consumer buys pole, cables, meter and contributes money to buy or replace the community transformer; and, as soon as that is done, they automatically become the Disco property and the electricity distribution companies will, without taking the meter reading, send outrageous estimated bills he/she never consumed.

That is not the only apprehension. There exists also some unforgivable abuse of trust within the sector.

The first that comes to mind is the recent report that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts has begun the investigation of N14.7 billion proceeds of privatization of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) allegedly hidden in commercial banks by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

The committee is acting on an audit query in the Auditor-General for the Federations Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses Issues in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Year Ended 31st December 2019.

Before the dust raised by the above worrying/worrisome development could settle, another was up. This time around has to do with a new awareness of how TCN, DISCOs Inefficiencies Caused Electricity Generating Companies to about N120.25 billion to stranded power which averaged 2,448.50 megawatts every month in 2021.

According to industry data cited by Business Standards, an average of N13 billion was lost every month by generating companies. This is the total monetary value of the volume of electricity generated by generating companies but which unfortunately could not get to consumers either due to infrastructural problems or because they were rejected by distribution companies for fear of not being able to recover the money from consumers.

What the above development tells us is that it is a difficult venture to implement meaningful changes when institutions are the cause of the problems in the first place.

It also suggests that engineering prosperity without confronting the root cause of the problem and the politics that keeps them in place is unlikely to bear fruit as the institutional structure that creates market failure will also prevent the implementation of interventions.

To catalyse the process of serving the sector, we must recognize that what we need today, perhaps, is not a new theory, concept or framework, but people who can think strategically with a balanced perspective.

Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). He could be reached via Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com/08032725374.

Like Loading...

Related

Link:
2023: North Central, PDP and the Coming Victory | Business Post Nigeria - Business Post Nigeria

Image by Getty Images/Futurism

It may sound like something out of utopian sci-fi, but a prominent futurist says were not too far off from breaking the genetic mold that has until now comprised the building blocks of human life.

In a wide-ranging interview withThe Washington Post, futurist Amy Webb predicted that the science of procreation will significantly change the way we have babies and may even change the maximum number of biological parents a person can have.

What were talking about here is a technology that unlocks our ability to be more selective and to intentionally design life, said Webb, discussing her new book The Genesis Machine, co-written with geneticist Andrew Hessel. Maybe that means one person using their own genetic material to bring an embryo to term; maybe it unlocks opportunities to select traits from more than two parents.

The author and founder of the Future Today Institute consulting firm admitted that while scientists and futuristic soothsayers like herself dont yet know the full applications for gene editing technology like CRISPR and others that are sure to follow, she believes the possibilities and optionality that could soon be afforded those who decide to procreate could be significant and a net good.

As always, the question of genetic engineering often leads directly to discussions of the potential for governmental abuse. But Webb dismissed those concerns, quipping to WaPo thatall roads on this path lead to eugenics name-checking the 1997 sci-fi flickGattaca.

While those for whom future is their business need to acknowledge the geopolitical advantages that some countries might try for by elevating their populations intelligence and physical traits, that doesnt mean we should reject synthetic biology wholesale, Webb suggested.

The thought of making pregnancy easier for people who really want to become parents is something we should be embracing, she told WaPo. Right now, creating a child relies on chance and serendipity, or enough money for a lot of [in-vitro fertilization] cycles. Its shockingly difficult in the year 2022 to make a baby. It shouldnt be that way.

Its an exciting prospect indeed, especially considering how prevalent maternal illness and even death can be in general and for mothers of color in particular.

Theres no reason not to imagine, design, and fund technology that will make getting pregnant, carrying fetuses to term, and giving birth as safe as, say, getting cosmetic surgery and with that kind of tech within our grasp, the sky is literally the limit when it comes to how reproductive science will look decades down the road.

READ MORE:Futurist Amy Webb says babymaking could get crazy and the smartphone will die [The Washington Post]

More on our not-so-distant genetic futures: Could We Gene Hack Ourselves to Be Blissed Out Sex Maniacs, Like Our Distant Cousins the Bonobos?

Care about supporting clean energy adoption? Find out how much money (and planet!) you could save by switching to solar power at UnderstandSolar.com. By signing up through this link, Futurism.com may receive a small commission.

Read more from the original source:
Expert Says Children Will Soon Have More than Two Biological Parents - Futurism