About Us
About Us
CRM AgriCommodities was founded in 2014, with a clear vision: provide independent, actionable, timely and accurate insights and advisory services about the grain and oilseeds markets.
Since then, we have gained a reputation as a leading provider of insights and a go to source of intelligence and advice for a diverse range of clients.
Our clients include producers, processors, advisors, investors and end users who despite their different business models, have one thing in common: they and their customers are all directly impacted by the volatility of the markets and are looking for a truly independent partner that will provide them with the intelligence and advice they need to make critical business decisions.
We deliver this through a variety of publications and packages, allowing our clients to subscribe to the services that suit their requirement and – of course – budgets.
Our services provide a level and quality of insight and opinion which is unrivalled, this has led to a growing community of loyal followers who engage regularly with our analysts and advisors through weekly opinion reports, monthly forecasts, webinars, telephone advice and bespoke projects and consulting work.
Our research covers a variety of commodities including: wheat, corn, barley, rapeseed, soybeans, vegetable oils, meals and fertilisers. We provide ongoing insight on trade, weather, supply & demand, funds, prices, and other key factors, cutting through the ‘noise’ and focusing on what is important in ever changing markets.
Our growing subscriber base allows us to continually invest in our our people and products, allowing us to retain our independence and provide truly impartial coverage and insights of the markets with no conflict of interest. I own and run the business.
Why pay for market research?
Potential clients and subscribers will naturally wonder why they should pay for market insights and research when there is so much free news circulating via social media etc. Our response is that there is a big difference between historic news and commentary, and the forward looking, opinion based research which we provide. This difference and additional value is reflected in the price.
Of course, nothing is every truly free and you should always ask how it is being funded, i.e through commissions, trades, levy’s. This research is very rarely truly independent or unbiased.
Our clients value and trust the independence of our insights and views. This allows them to make timely and confident decisions which adds value to their businesses and in turn gives their stakeholders and customers confidence that they are making sound decisions.
If you would like to know more about us or speak to our team about your requirements, we would love to hear from you at contact@crmagri.co.uk
Thank you for your interest and hopefully we can work together soon.
James Bolesworth
Founder & Managing Director
James Bolesworth | Managing Director / Advisor
With a decade spent in grain markets providing strategic market and risk management advice to agribusinesses across Europe, James oversees the strategic decisions made within the marketing strategies as well as directly advising agribusinesses and managing the business strategy of CRM AgriCommodities. James holds an Investment Advice Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment and a degree in Business Management (International Agribusiness) from the Royal Agricultural University.
Peter Collier | Senior Analyst/ Advisor
Peter joined CRM Agri from the AHDB Market Intelligence department, where he worked with commercial operations providing market insights. Peter uses the experience and skills gained to cover the global and domestic commodity market drivers. Conveying the research that goes into formulating our strategies alongside creating research material. Peter comes from a science background having studied biological sciences, followed by a masters in sustainable agriculture and economics from Exeter University.
Richard Whitlock | Consultant
Richard spent 35 years in the agricultural merchanting sector trading combinable crops. He started with Sidney C Banks Ltd ultimately becoming grain director. Following mergers he joined Banks Cargill and subsequently Frontier Agriculture. He has been a director of the AHDB crops board, vice chairman of LEAF, chairman of TASCC, and chairman of the Oxford Farming Conference. In October 2020 he will be installed as The Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, one of the City of London Livery Companies.
Steven Burke | Agricultural Economist
Steven joined CRM Agri from FocusEconomics, a leading macroeconomic research firm. Having over four years of experience as a macroeconomist and commodity project coordinator, he provides strategic advice on the global economy’s impact on commodity markets. With a track record of report writing, economic forecasting and business development he also contributes to a broad range of operations within CRM Agri, including commercial partnerships and client engagements. His background is in mathematics, he holds a bachelor’s degree of science in economics and mathematics and a masters degree in economics from the University of Toronto.
Mike Verdin| Senior Market Consultant
Mike is a senior market consultant with CRM AgriCommodities delivering market analysis across a wide range of agricultural commodities and advising businesses on markets and price risk management.
Olivia Bolesworth | Marketing
Olivia is a freelance creative with 10+ years demonstrated experience in commercial graphic design, four years of which were spent at a creative design agency working for the likes of Bosch, adidas and Berghaus. During the summer months (when not designing amazing content), Olivia also runs a rural glamping business in South Wiltshire, collaborating with local farmers to facilitate agri-tourism in their area.
Advisors
James Waltham | Strategic Advisor
James has worked in the fresh produce and agribusiness sectors for more than 20 years. A farmer’s son from Dorset he originally trained as an agronomist but over the last 20 years has worked for a number of large, international fresh produce businesses, most recently as Managing Director of Haygrove (Growing) Ltd. James provides strategic advice to CRM Agri to help focus on the long-term corporate strategy and success of the business.
Alisdair Wade | Strategic Advisor
Having worked in investment banking at JPMorgan, Cazenove and Merrill Lynch in roles that took him to positions in Hong Kong, New York, Moscow and London, Ali then turned his hand to farming where he now runs an arable farm in Wiltshire and is actively involved in the grain trading and risk management of the business. He is also involved in a number of companies within the education sector which remains a passion of his.