Who We Are

PG Economics Limited is a specialist provider of advisory and consultancy services to agriculture and sectors that both service/supply agriculture and use agricultural raw materials. Our specific areas of specialisation are new technology use in agriculture (eg, plant biotechnology, new breeding techniques), agricultural production systems, agricultural markets, policy, regulation, trade agreements, environmental, sustainability and greenhouse gas impact assessments.

The Company's original two directors were Peter Barfoot and Graham Brookes who formed PG Economics in 1999. Peter retired in 2021 with the business transferring to the sole ownership of Graham via his business GBC Ltd. 

Graham continues to undertake the work that PG Economics has become widely know for undertaking which comprises ad-hoc assignments, on-going consultancy and advice in the following core areas:

• Commercialisation and impact of new technology
• Regulatory and policy impact assessment
• Sustainability claims advice and assessment 
• Farm economics and competitiveness
• Market dynamics and economics
• Trade agreement impact assessment
• Market intelligence gathering and interpretation
• Auditing and checking of socio-economic, environmental and sustainability claims
• Technical and market knowledge management
• Policy/regulation interpretation and analysis
• Value chain analysis and assessment.

Philosophy and attributes

Our philosophy and approach to all services provided is based on, and offers the following attributes:

• Ability to combine technical, economic/market knowledge and understanding into strategic information to support decision-making
• Active customer involvement in the development of consultancy project targets and implementation
• In depth experience and knowledge gained on over 300 consultancy projects
• Objective and focused on using reliable and substantiated evidence

Client base

Our clients come from both public and private sectors. These include the leading agri-technology companies, agro-chemical manufacturers, seed companies and plant breeders, animal feed ingredient manufacturers, breakfast cereal manufacturers, rice millers, oilseed crushers, food processors, sugar/starch/sweetener manufacturers, farmers organisations, national and international trade associations, UK government and the European Commission.

Expertise base

Graham Brookes is an economist by training who has 35+ years experience of providing consulting services to both private and public-sector customers. Graham has in-depth knowledge of the markets, trade and supply chain developments in many sectors including cereals, oilseeds, rice, sugar, dairy, wine, potatoes, meat and processed product derivatives (including starch, flour, animal feed, oils, meals/proteins, beer and alcoholic spirits). He has considerable experience and understanding of farm economics and competitiveness, policy/regulation and trade issues, impact on markets and of undertaking regulatory and policy impact assessments. He is also a specialist in assessing the impact (economic, environmental and greenhouse gas emission) of new technology, such as plant biotechnology and newer breeding techniques and can help with data requirements for certification with bodies like B Corp and Fair Trade.