Latest news with #Finimize
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report warns of steep food price hikes as essential crop yield plummets — here's what's at risk
Food prices continue to surge as Earth's rising temperatures disrupt global crop production, threatening food security and household budgets worldwide. Japan's recent rice shortage offers a sobering preview of what might soon affect American dinner tables and grocery bills. Rising global temperatures damage crop yields and drive up food costs across the globe. In Japan, heat-induced shortages have caused domestic rice prices to skyrocket, forcing the country to import over 44,000 tons of rice, primarily from the U.S., in fiscal 2025, according to Finimize. Major Japanese retailers now sell foreign rice varieties because, even with import tariffs, they are cheaper than local options. When essential crops fail, families can feel an immediate financial strain. The average American household now spends 12% more on groceries than just two years ago, with climate-vulnerable staples seeing the steepest price hikes. Beyond the economic impact, food insecurity threatens community health as nutritious options become less affordable. Agricultural disruptions also harm ecosystems and biodiversity. Farmers adopt more aggressive growing techniques to compensate for losses, creating a harmful cycle of environmental degradation that further worsens climate conditions. Scientists are working to develop heat-resistant crop varieties that can withstand higher temperatures without sacrificing nutrition or yield, and the United States Department of Agriculture announced a $250 million initiative to support small and midsize farms implementing climate-smart agricultural practices last year. International cooperation, including Japan's rice imports, also demonstrates how trade relationships can buffer against local food shortages. Planning meals, buying seasonal produce, and reducing food waste are practical steps you can take to save money while supporting a more sustainable food system. Consumers looking to protect their household budget can check out TCD's guide to shopping smarter at the grocery store. It offers tips to stretch your dollar and protect the environment at the same time. What's the most common reason you end up throwing away food? Bought more than I could eat Went bad sooner than I expected Forgot it was in the fridge Didn't want leftovers Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet the CEO trying to ‘increase the net worth of an entire generation'
Did you know that 34% of European adults, or 113 million people, invest, according to BlackRock's recent People & Money report? Germany, the UK, France and Italy have the most investors. However, for 56% of 18-34 year olds, a lack of knowledge or understanding was the top barrier to investing, followed by a lack of money, cited by 52% of respondents. Fear of losing money and a lack of time were other major reasons for not investing. Carl Hazeley, the newly-appointed CEO of Finimize, a financial insights, news and research platform, addressed the idea that a lack of capital is a barrier to investing. 'It was true 10-15 years ago that you needed a certain amount of money to think about investing. And that's just not the case anymore,' he said. He highlighted that Finimize hoped to 'increase the net worth of an entire generation' by providing the tools for users to 'become their own financial advisor'. In this episode of The Big Question, Carl Hazeley joins Hannah Brown to discuss the importance of investing, especially for younger people, while shedding more light on current investment trends. Related The Big Question: Is glass the answer to increasing data centre efficiency? Businesses set to fail if cyber resilience not most important thing says Splunk strategy head Research suggests that a significant generational wealth transfer, worth about €73 trillion, is poised to happen in the next two decades in the US, with Gen Xers and millennials mainly receiving the money via inheritance. This potential wealth redistribution has made it more crucial for younger investors to learn how to invest and compound their funds. Current global economic conditions, such as high inflation, also risk eroding bank funds. 'If inflation is at 2% for 30 years: €1,000, it's worth €500. If inflation is at 10% for seven years, that €1,000 goes to €500,' Hazeley said. 'Investing broadly helps shield you from that impact, it'll grow your money, at least in line with inflation, hopefully more. And that means, when you get to later stages in life, you have a nest egg to retire with.' Related The Big Question: How will AI transform the travel industry? Longer life spans and more sophisticated healthcare are making retirement more expensive too. 'There's a generation of people, millennials and downwards, who are sleepwalking toward a retirement where with rising life expectancies, improved medications, we're all going to live much longer and have no money to fund that retirement,' Hazeley explained. 'That's why it's never been more important to take advantage of education and for modern retail investors to invest.' Newsletters, websites and podcasts can all help with investing knowledge, with just 5 to 10 minutes a day, according to Hazeley, who likened it to 'learning a language'. 'You'll find eventually that you can join the dots between an event and a response,' he added. However, it is vital to be cautious while investing, warned Hazeley: 'If someone's guaranteeing a return, they're either lying to you or breaking the law. No real investor can guarantee anything.' Related 'Now or never moment': Is it all economic doom and gloom for Europe in 2025? 'You cannot live without space in 20 years': What does the future of Europe's economy look like? The rise of smartphones and online investing content has made investing more accessible than ever before, according to Hazeley. Although Finimize has played a role in improving accessibility to investing content, there's still a long way to go. 'I can't confidently say that it's as accessible as it needs to be for everyone. I think that's a moving target, and it's a goal that the industry should aspire to. If it was accessible, I think we'd be having a very different type of conversation, even on the same topic,' Hazeley said. For those younger people who do invest, they are becoming much more conscious about the way they invest. Around 42% of modern retail investors shared that they wouldn't invest in something if it didn't align with their values, even if it was profitable, according to Finimize's Q2 2024 Modern Investor Pulse. Similarly, 48% of respondents revealed that investing ethically was important to them, with thematic investing, both trend-focused and climate-focused, being especially important to millennials. The Big Question is a series from Euronews Business where we sit down with industry leaders and experts to discuss some of the most important topics on today's agenda. Watch the video above to see the full discussion with Finimize CEO, Carl Hazeley. Sign in to access your portfolio
