Historic Organic Soybean Option Contract Executed via the Stable-Mercaris Partnership

World's First Organic Soybean Price Hedge Emerges from Collaboration of Stables' Risk Management Tools with Mercaris' Organic and Non-GMO Price Indices

Today Stable announces the execution of the first-ever over-the-counter option contract to protect against volatile organic soybean prices. According to price reporting from Mercaris, organic soybeans have increased 62% compared to just one year ago. This historic volatility has heightened the need to protect against downside and upside price changes. 

The first organic soybean transaction contract will be settled using the Mercaris Midwest Organic Soybean Price Index, which reflects organic soybean cash market prices across a six-state region of the U.S. where the majority of organic soybeans are grown.

"Stable is excited to see the early results of our partnership with Mercaris during these unprecedented times in agriculture markets," says Jim Sullivan, VP Partnerships at Stable. "This marks the first time in history that price protection was made possible in organic soybeans, an unlisted agricultural commodity for which there was previously no way to effectively manage price risk. The mix of growing demand and heightened volatility in soybean markets underscores the need for the type of risk management that Stable is delivering to our agricultural and food business customers across the supply chain." 

Because organic grains are not traded on any public exchange, the price risk management methods available to everyone from farmers to feed mills have been limited. That has changed with Stable's simple and targeted options-based risk management solutions that settle directly against reference prices published by entities such as Mercaris.

"Robust, reliable price data for organic grains is the foundation for innovative tools that enable better price risk management," says Kellee James, Founder and CEO of Mercaris. "The impacts of climate change and other social, political and environmental challenges amplify the usual fluctuations of supply and demand. Our mission is to support better decision-making to help our partners meet those challenges."

Organic soybean options are one of several contracts offered to help manage price risk for organic crops. For more information about hedging price risk, please contact Stable. For information on Mercaris' organic grain price indexes, we welcome you to visit www.mercaris.com.

About Mercaris
Mercaris has helped its customers capitalize on the growing demand for organic and non-GMO agriculture by providing market intelligence, analysis, and trading services exclusively for the identity-preserved agriculture industry. Mercaris hosts the largest organic and non-GMO grain and oilseed market survey across the U.S. and Canada and recently launched an organic dairy initiative. The company also maintains a trading platform for organic and non-GMO grain, oilseed crops and select dairy products. With a dynamic combination of data, insights, and technology, customers can access solutions for every challenge.

About Stable
Stable (www.stableprice.com) offers a safe harbor for businesses exposed to volatile prices. Stable does this by hosting hundreds of third-party indexes that are local or tightly correlated to the physical risks its clients face. From financial controllers to farmers, Stable has democratized hedging for businesses of every size and sector to create the financial stability they need to invest in the future with confidence.

Contact
Lynsey McAnally
lynsey.mcanally@mercaris.com
240-650-3549

Source: Mercaris