Mercaris

Mercaris operates as a specialized market data service and trading platform focused on identity-preserved agricultural commodities, bringing greater transparency and efficiency to a niche market. The firm was co-founded in 2012 by Kellee James, who currently serves as its CEO. James' background is deeply rooted in environmental and commodity markets; prior to establishing Mercaris, she spent five years at the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the first electronic trading platform for environmental products. Her experience also includes a tenure as a White House Fellow under the Obama administration, where she advised on environmental markets. This unique blend of experience in both agricultural economics and environmental policy directly shaped the company's mission.

The company's business model is centered on providing subscription-based market intelligence and facilitating transactions within the organic and non-genetically modified (non-GMO) agricultural sectors across the United States and Canada. Mercaris delivers critical data and analysis to a client base that spans the entire supply chain, including farmers, processors, retailers, government bodies, and financial firms. Its core offerings include price assessments, acreage estimates, and supply/demand analyses for organic corn, soybeans, wheat, and other grains, as well as the organic dairy market. The price assessments adhere to IOSCO Principles and are used as benchmarks for physical and over-the-counter contracts, reducing risk for market participants.

In addition to its data services, Mercaris operates an online trading platform that connects buyers and sellers, enabling more profitable trades and discovering new market opportunities. A key feature is the quarterly online auction for certified organic cream, which serves as an effective mechanism for price discovery in the dairy sector. In June 2023, Mercaris was acquired by Argus Media, a global energy and commodity price reporting agency. This strategic acquisition aims to leverage Argus's global reach to expand Mercaris's services, enhance its product portfolio, and accelerate development into related markets like biofuels. Following the acquisition, James became the VP of Agriculture for North America at Argus.

Keywords: organic commodities, non-GMO, agricultural data, commodity trading platform, market intelligence, agtech, supply chain analytics, price discovery, sustainable agriculture, identity-preserved, organic grains, organic dairy, US agriculture, Canadian agriculture, crop data, acreage estimates, supply demand analysis, commodity price reporting, Kellee James, Argus Media