See why FERM is Beyond Conventional Wisdom

Connect changing agricultural and biofuel markets to the decisions that affect your margins.

Put FERM in your corner →

About Flat Earth Risk Management

Flat Earth Risk Management helps food and agribusiness companies manage commodity risk through objective analysis and disciplined strategy. Since 2012 we’ve grown from a grains and oilseeds practice into a full-service team covering biofuels, sugar, dairy, cocoa and natural gas.

Our professionals bring more than 100 years of combined experience from companies like Mars, Kraft Foods and McCormick, supported by a dedicated research team focused on modeling and data. Powered by Marcus Weather, we combine weather and crop intelligence with market analysis, all under one roof.

Our motto is “Beyond Conventional Wisdom.” We’re independent and unswayed by market sentiment, and we aim to get the market right or wrong for the right reasons, so your strategies protect your margins.

Why FERM?

  • Objective: independent analysis, free of “market think.”
  • Disciplined: strategies built into your risk management framework, not around it.
  • Collaborative: we meet you wherever you are in your risk management journey.
  • Efficient: focused updates by call, WhatsApp or email, because your time is the scarcest resource.

Our Team

John, Flat Earth Risk Management

John

President

Trained as a meteorologist, John spent his corporate career managing commodity risk at Mars, Kraft Foods and McCormick & Company, where he co-authored Kraft’s hedging policy and led McCormick’s global risk management program. His expertise spans weather and climate, agronomy, statistical modeling and grains and oilseeds markets.

Bryce, Flat Earth Risk Management

Bryce

Vice President

Bryce brings commodity risk management experience from Kraft Foods and ACH Food Companies, with a background in agricultural economics, market analysis and derivatives. He specializes in statistical modeling, grains and oilseeds markets, and biofuels.

Jeff, Flat Earth Risk Management

Jeff

Consultant

Jeff brings commodity and supply chain experience from Mars, Nestlé Dreyer’s Ice Cream, The Blommer Chocolate Company and Fuji Oil Holdings USA. He specializes in sugar, dairy, cocoa and energy markets, statistical modeling, and risk management including FX derivatives, and is an industry speaker.

Jessie, Flat Earth Risk Management

Jessie

Senior Commodity Research Analyst

Jessie joined Flat Earth in 2025 after a career in banking and finance at Citizens Bank and Truist Securities, where she focused on commercial loan underwriting, tracking portfolio performance and macroeconomic trends to spot financial stress early. She holds a B.S. in Financial Management from Clemson University.

Taylor, Flat Earth Risk Management

Taylor

Data Architect / Commodity Research Analyst

Taylor joined Flat Earth in 2025. He manages the firm’s data architecture and builds the quantitative models behind its market outlooks, turning complex data into clear research for clients.

Risk Management Services

Flat Earth has a spectrum of services available to assist clients in their journey towards strategic risk management excellence. These services are applicable across both exchange traded and physical commodities and raw materials, and to existing or future challenges in the supply chain.
Principles, Philosophy, Methodology, Alignment, Discipline, Structure Objectives, Endorsement, Assess/Review/Refine
Strategic
Structures, Toolbox, Matrices, Strategy Filter, Discipline, Reporting/Measurement, Strategy Development
Operational
Discipline, Strategy Execution, Recommendations, Market Updates, Results
Tactical
Flat Earth offers all or subsets of the above services, either through continuing consulting arrangement or through specific project based contracts. The vision is to assist clients in creating and maintaining a commodity risk management process that delivers stability to operating margins, aligns hedging strategies with business risks, and provides a senior management endorsed strategic structure. When done correctly, strategic risk management in and of itself does not have right or wrong answers, it solves business problems.

If you are interested in finding out more about how Flat Earth Risk Management can help you successfully manage today’s and tomorrow’s turbulent markets…for both your internal and external clients…please use the contact information below.

Contact

Understand market connections. Make better-informed decisions.

Email us at ferm@fermllc.com or send us a note below.

Put FERM in your corner →