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Category: Commerce

  • MIL-OSI: Epiq Wins Todd & Weld LLP Office Services Outsourcing Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Epiq announced today a new partnership with Todd & Weld LLP to provide office services, including mail management services; copy, print, and production services; IT support services; and, hospitality and reception services.

    Boston’s preeminent trial firm was looking to modernize its operations and needed a partner that could guide them confidently into the future while ensuring sound execution of office services along the way. The firm selected Epiq based on its proven ability to combine people, processes, technology, and data insights to provide a superior front-of-house and back-office experience while achieving cost savings for the firm.

    “Partnering with Epiq allows us to enhance our operational capabilities by integrating their talent, innovative workflows, and actionable intelligence into our existing systems,” said Stephanie Hood, Executive Director at Todd & Weld. “This alignment supports our continued efforts to elevate efficiency and output while maintaining the high standards our clients expect. Epiq’s broad office services platform complements our commitment to leveraging technology, empowering our team, and supporting the creativity and drive of our attorneys.”

    The Epiq experience is curated through comprehensive training programs, commitment to process innovation, as well as an ability to capture productivity metrics and enact a data-driven strategy – all while empowering a continuously optimizing operational model. Epiq has experience with other similar law firms and assessed the firm’s current operations. The expert consulting team identified several impactful opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, resulting in a combined, cross-trained team covering front and back-office operations.

    “At Epiq, our focus revolves around understanding our clients’ needs and providing rightsized solutions that enable operational transformation through highly skilled talent, process automation, and technology-enabled solutions,” said Michelle Deichmeister, President of the Global Business Transformation Solutions business at Epiq. “Every day, we help organizations experience a higher quality of output across their core functions as well as a reduction in long-term costs.”

    Epiq’s understanding of the evolution of client pressures and priorities has helped it to become the trusted advisor to 93 of the Am Law 100 law firms and thousands of other brand name organizations across the world. Epiq excels in service delivery with highly skilled teams, state-of-the-art equipment, and advanced technology solutions. Its global team of experts, specialists, and leaders in their fields are stationed across 18 countries and on the ground at hundreds of client sites. By leveraging its expertise with utility players, process improvement, and quality, Epiq is able to embed with clients’ strategies to outsource front- and back-end processes.

    About Epiq

    Epiq, a technology and services leader, takes on large-scale and complex tasks for corporate legal departments, law firms, and business professionals by integrating people, process, technology, and data. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline legal and compliance, settlement, and business administration workflows to drive efficiency, minimize risk, and improve cost savings. With a presence in 18 countries, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities. Learn how Epiq’s approximately 6,100 people worldwide create meaningful change at www.epiqglobal.com.

    Press Contact
    Carrie Trent  
    Epiq, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations  
    Carrie.Trent@epiqglobal.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Epiq Wins Todd & Weld LLP Office Services Outsourcing Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Epiq announced today a new partnership with Todd & Weld LLP to provide office services, including mail management services; copy, print, and production services; IT support services; and, hospitality and reception services.

    Boston’s preeminent trial firm was looking to modernize its operations and needed a partner that could guide them confidently into the future while ensuring sound execution of office services along the way. The firm selected Epiq based on its proven ability to combine people, processes, technology, and data insights to provide a superior front-of-house and back-office experience while achieving cost savings for the firm.

    “Partnering with Epiq allows us to enhance our operational capabilities by integrating their talent, innovative workflows, and actionable intelligence into our existing systems,” said Stephanie Hood, Executive Director at Todd & Weld. “This alignment supports our continued efforts to elevate efficiency and output while maintaining the high standards our clients expect. Epiq’s broad office services platform complements our commitment to leveraging technology, empowering our team, and supporting the creativity and drive of our attorneys.”

    The Epiq experience is curated through comprehensive training programs, commitment to process innovation, as well as an ability to capture productivity metrics and enact a data-driven strategy – all while empowering a continuously optimizing operational model. Epiq has experience with other similar law firms and assessed the firm’s current operations. The expert consulting team identified several impactful opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, resulting in a combined, cross-trained team covering front and back-office operations.

    “At Epiq, our focus revolves around understanding our clients’ needs and providing rightsized solutions that enable operational transformation through highly skilled talent, process automation, and technology-enabled solutions,” said Michelle Deichmeister, President of the Global Business Transformation Solutions business at Epiq. “Every day, we help organizations experience a higher quality of output across their core functions as well as a reduction in long-term costs.”

    Epiq’s understanding of the evolution of client pressures and priorities has helped it to become the trusted advisor to 93 of the Am Law 100 law firms and thousands of other brand name organizations across the world. Epiq excels in service delivery with highly skilled teams, state-of-the-art equipment, and advanced technology solutions. Its global team of experts, specialists, and leaders in their fields are stationed across 18 countries and on the ground at hundreds of client sites. By leveraging its expertise with utility players, process improvement, and quality, Epiq is able to embed with clients’ strategies to outsource front- and back-end processes.

    About Epiq

    Epiq, a technology and services leader, takes on large-scale and complex tasks for corporate legal departments, law firms, and business professionals by integrating people, process, technology, and data. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline legal and compliance, settlement, and business administration workflows to drive efficiency, minimize risk, and improve cost savings. With a presence in 18 countries, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities. Learn how Epiq’s approximately 6,100 people worldwide create meaningful change at www.epiqglobal.com.

    Press Contact
    Carrie Trent  
    Epiq, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations  
    Carrie.Trent@epiqglobal.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: 3 ways Canadians can take control of their finances in an age of economic uncertainty

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Omar H. Fares, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business, University of New Brunswick

    Canadian consumers are beginning to move from short-term economic concerns to a more persistent mindset of financial precarity, and it’s starting to affect how they live.

    People are delaying major purchases and starting to show signs of subscription fatigue, according to recent findings. One recent survey found that 70 per cent of Canadians are deferring major life decisions, including home ownership and family planning, as a consequence of this sustained economic uncertainty.

    This anxiety is now reflected in broader sentiment. The Bank of Canada’s latest Consumer Expectations Survey found a sharp rise in economic pessimism. About two-thirds of Canadians now anticipate a recession within the year, up from 47 per cent in late 2024.

    Concerns about job security, debt repayment and access to credit are also mounting. For the first time since early 2024, more consumers report cutting back on spending. Home-buying intentions are declining, especially among those expecting a downturn, and an increasing share of mortgage holders plan to reduce expenses ahead of higher renewal payments.

    Consumers are no longer just reacting to inflation or interest rates, but adjusting to the idea that financial uncertainty may be here to stay.

    Why today’s economic anxiety feels different

    While the link between economic uncertainty and reduced spending is well established, what makes today’s situation different is the convergence of multiple pressures facing consumers.

    This includes a challenging job market — particularly for younger Canadians — concerns about the disruptive effects of AI-driven automation, the threat of tariffs from the United States, ongoing global conflicts and the growing cost of living.

    With economic uncertainty now a defining feature of everyday life for many Canadians, the sense of financial precarity is shaping how people think, plan and spend.

    Addressing this new reality will require equipping ourselves with tools and mental habits that can help develop financial stability, even in unpredictable times. Here are three research-backed ways to do this.

    A Global News segment about how half of Canadians are living bill-to-bill.

    1. Budget based on values

    With many people feeling the pinch or uncertainty around money, a more deliberate, values-based approach to personal finance is needed beyond traditional budgeting methods. If you’re looking for more control over your finances, it can help to shift your focus from just tracking where your money goes to making sure it goes where you actually want it to.

    Research in consumer behaviour supports this shift in mindset. Mental accounting, introduced by economist Richard Thaler, explains how people naturally divide their money into mental categories like stability, family or learning. Budgeting then becomes less about cutting back and more about making intentional choices.

    Studies have found that pairing this kind of values-based budgeting with simple practices, such as setting clear goals and automating transfers, can lead to lower spending and more consistent long-term behaviour. The goal is not to manage every dollar perfectly, but to make sure your money aligns with what matters most to you.

    Since values tend to guide sustainable decision-making, a practical starting point is to identify three to five core values, such as financial security, personal development or time with family. Next, review your recent transactions and group them by the value they support. This reframes budgeting as a way to assess whether your current spending aligns with what you consider most important.

    From there, assign a reasonable monthly amount to each category based on your income and fixed obligations. You don’t need to track every detail, but having value-based benchmarks will improve day-to-day choices.

    Renaming categories in your budgeting app or spreadsheet is another important approach. For example, changing “discretionary” to “family time” or “well-being” can reinforce the link between spending and values. Set up automated transfers that reflect your goals; this might include creating a savings buffer, funding education or contributing to a low-risk investment account. Automation helps reduce decision fatigue and supports consistency.

    2. Use pessimism to your advantage

    While recognizing economic risks is entirely rational, how people respond to that risk makes a significant difference. Psychologists have studied a mindset known as “defensive pessimism,” a strategy that involves anticipating potential problems in order to plan effectively, rather than being overwhelmed by uncertainty.

    Unlike chronic anxiety or fear, which can impair decision-making and lead to poorer financial and consumption choices, defensive pessimism encourages people to take a more measured, thoughtful approach. It combines realism with preparation and helps individuals stay focused and responsive in uncertain conditions.

    People are more resilient when they focus on what can be changed. In practical terms, this might include learning a new skill, starting a side project or strengthening personal or professional networks.

    To apply defensive pessimism, start by clearly identifying what could go wrong, then outline specific actions to address those possibilities. Break big tasks into smaller, manageable steps, create a backup plan and regularly reassess progress. This approach helps maintain focus, reduce surprises and turn worry into preparation.

    These small, proactive steps with detailed personal reflection can offer a sense of agency that counters feelings of helplessness. Rather than ignoring challenges, defensive pessimism coupled with consistent reflection is about figuring out how to work around them.

    3. Adopt a long-term outlook

    Despite ongoing uncertainty, maintaining a long-term financial perspective remains very important. Research consistently shows that people who engage in long-term planning tend to accumulate greater wealth over time.

    Long-term planning involves continuing to plan for future goals such as retirement or education, even when timelines need to shift due to changing circumstances.

    One of the greatest challenges with this approach is known as the “sour grape effect.” This refers to the tendency people have to downplay a future goal or reward after experiencing early setbacks or failures.

    A 2020 study with 1,304 participants in Norway and the U.S. found that setbacks can lead individuals to disengage from their goals. Participants were given either positive or negative feedback on an initial task and then asked to predict how much happiness they would feel if they succeeded in a later round.

    Those who experienced failure anticipated much less happiness from future success. When everyone actually did succeed, their levels of happiness were the same regardless of initial feedback. Setbacks can lead people to devalue their goals as a self-protective strategy. However, participants with high achievement motivation did not show this bias.

    In other words, when short-term disappointments are interpreted as failure, there is a risk that people may give up on long-term plans altogether. In these moments, the most effective course of action is staying consistent and committed, while still remaining agile enough to adapt as needed.

    Omar H. Fares does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 3 ways Canadians can take control of their finances in an age of economic uncertainty – https://theconversation.com/3-ways-canadians-can-take-control-of-their-finances-in-an-age-of-economic-uncertainty-260785

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in Los Angeles to Help Businesses Impacted by Los Angeles Civil Unrest

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened an SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Los Angeles County to assist small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations affected by the Los Angeles County civil unrest occurring July 6‑18.

    The new center, located in Los Angeles, provides a one-stop resource where SBA customer service representatives are available to meet individually with business owners and nonprofits to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary and walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    LOS ANGELES COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    City of Los Angeles Business Source Center
    East Los Angeles Region
    1780 E. First St.
    Los Angeles, CA  90033

    Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Opened at 2 p.m., Monday, July 14

    “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face‑to‑face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

    The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for nonprofits with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 27, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: MCAPS Start for Partners: Accelerating growth and innovation together

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: MCAPS Start for Partners: Accelerating growth and innovation together

    Earlier this year, Microsoft celebrated its 50th anniversary, a journey powered by our partners from day one. As we begin the new fiscal year, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your bold innovation, trusted collaboration, and customer obsession. FY25 was one of the most transformative years in our history, and you made it possible.

    At MCAPS Start for Partners, we outlined the next chapter of opportunity powered by AI: customizable agents, copilots, and a new class of AI-first organizations we call Frontier Firms. These are next-generation organizations that blend AI-powered solutions with human leadership to operate with agility, scale, and value creation. These firms are not just adopting AI; they are redesigning their business models, workflows, and cultures around it. 
     

    FY26 priorities and solution areas

    As we look ahead to FY26, our focus is on translating this AI-powered vision into actionable priorities for our partners. To do this, we have made the decision to evolve our go-to-market approach around three solution areas, a strategic shift grounded in what customers are asking for and what’s resonating most in the market. 
     

     
     

    • AI Business Solutions: Scale Copilot across every device and role and drive strong execution in Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365.
    • Cloud & AI Platforms: Lead with Frontier AI innovations and accelerate cloud migrations and modernization.
    • Security: Strengthen and secure the cyber foundation.

    These solution areas are designed to mirror how customers think about their business challenges, making it easier for Microsoft and our partners to align solutions to those needs. They also provide a scalable, repeatable framework for how we engage across industries, segments, and geographies, enabling more consistent execution and deeper impact.

    As a partner-first company, our partner ecosystem is an extension of our sales organization, and this alignment deepens our unified approach to engaging customers. 
     

    Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

    The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program continues to be the primary way we engage and invest in our partner ecosystem. The program brings everything together across the whole of the partner lifecycle, including onboarding, skilling, go-to-market, co-selling, and incentives.

    Our commitment is to make the AI Cloud Partner Program a home for all partner types and to be agile to keep up with the innovation we are bringing to market, as well as customer demand. FY26 represents another record year of investment in the program, supporting partners with market-leading capability across their journey. 
     

    Expanded program benefits

    The program is designed to deliver value across every stage of the partner journey, offering targeted benefits that support growth and innovation.

    For software development companies, key offerings include access to the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, which enables partners to build, publish, and scale well-architected software solutions.

    To further support software partners, Microsoft is increasing Azure credits for those participating in Marketplace Rewards or who hold certified software designations. These benefits unlock valuable resources such as technical consultations, access to AI Foundry, GitHub and GitHub Copilot, exam vouchers, and additional rewards tied to marketplace performance.

    For services partners, we are expanding our benefits offerings by including the latest Microsoft products, increasing Copilot seats, and introducing tools like Copilot Studio, Dragon Copilot, and Microsoft 365 E5 Security. Based on partner feedback, the company is also enhancing benefit delivery through Modern Benefit Provisioning in Partner Center.

    In FY26, partners will also gain more flexibility by being able to combine or split their benefit packages across multiple tenants, enabling them to support operations in various global locations. 
     

    Skilling for the future and becoming customer zero

    Capability is the new currency. Skilling is one of the most important steps partners can take to earn designations, build trust, and accelerate differentiation. And becoming their own customer zero by using Microsoft AI solutions within their organization is what separates partners who lead from those who follow. With fast-moving tech cycles, staying skilled and hands-on is no longer optional; it is essential.

    In FY25, over three million learners upskilled across the Microsoft solution areas, with half of them in AI, Copilot, and Fabric. In FY26, we are expanding this momentum with additional opportunities:

    • Agentic AI skilling: hands-on technical training to skill partners to design and deploy intelligent agent solutions using Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry.
    • Hackathon-based training: enabling partners to build IP, earn certifications, and deliver revenue-generating AI engagements.
    • Regional in-person workshops and AI roadshows: providing immersive, peer-based skilling experiences.
    • CSP certification weeks and a Skilling in a Box initiative for distributors, scaling pre-sales and sales skilling to thousands of resellers.

    We encourage every partner to become customer zero and use the very tools they bring to market. This builds credibility, deepens insight, and increases their ability to guide customers through transformation. When their teams are hands-on with AI, the customer experience improves.

    Skilling is the engine behind that impact, and we are here to support partners every step of the way. Learn more about current skilling opportunities. 
     

    Unlocking growth through designations

    Designations and specializations remain key to how we showcase partner capabilities both to customers and internally across Microsoft’s field organization. In FY26, we are launching several new recognitions, including a Copilot specialization (launching this month), a Distributor designation, a Support designation, and a Sovereign Cloud specialization.

    In the second half of FY26, we will introduce two new device-driven designations in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. These are focused on unlocking commercial Windows growth, especially in SMB.

    • One designation recognizes OEM partners building modern, hybrid-ready Windows devices.
    • The second is for partners selling and deploying Windows Commercial devices, including Copilot+ PCs, with value across the full deployment lifecycle.

    These designations are focused on supporting the Windows 10 refresh cycle, accelerating Microsoft 365 adoption, and building trusted relationships through secure, AI-ready devices.

    We have also expanded SMB pathways for Security and Azure designations, with nearly 9,000 partners already achieving designations through these new routes. 
     

    Incentives to fuel growth

    We are also significantly increasing our investment across the business:

    • Enterprise Customer Investment Funds will grow ~20% year over year (YOY), enabling partners to deliver more AI design wins, migrations, and Copilot deployments.
    • In AI Business Solutions, we have increased Copilot funding by 50%, reflecting strong momentum and broadening accessibility across the workforce.
    • Microsoft 365 incentives are increasing by double digits.
    • Azure outcome-based incentives are up 70% YOY, rewarding partners for expanding workloads, driving seat growth, and deepening solution adoption.
    • We are strengthening our CSP incentives with a ~20% YOY increase to reward growth through new customer acquisition, upselling new workloads, and expanding existing relationships. To align our investments with our FY26 growth ambitions, we’re pulling forward the effective date of these incentives to July 1. This shift ensures a fast start to the year, enabling partners to accelerate execution, capture opportunity earlier, and drive measurable impact from day one. We’re structuring this opportunity to foster a more predictable and profitable environment as partners deliver strategic customer solutions.
    • We are also investing 15% more in Security, an increase from a significant investment base, to empower partner-led engagements that protect customers and open new business opportunities.

    Be sure to download our CSA incentives playbooks for guidance on the customer opportunity across each solution area, along with the resources available at each stage of customer engagement to help partners capture that opportunity.

    The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is the engine that fuels our ecosystem. We are committed to continual investment, flexibility, and shared success so that our program evolves in lockstep with our technology and the market. 
     

    Seizing the segment opportunity

    Across customer segments, we see real momentum and value creation through Microsoft’s AI platform, especially through Copilot and agents. Organizations are using AI to reshape how work gets done, reduce costs, and unlock net-new value.

    Microsoft estimates, based on IDC data, that in the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment, the total addressable market (TAM) will reach $777 billion by FY26 for organizations with fewer than 3,000 employees. This spans over 400 million organizations globally. Our Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners are playing a critical role as trusted advisors, with SMB and corporate seller-partner co-sell deals up significantly year over year.

    In the enterprise segment, partners are leading large-scale AI and cloud transformations across a $592 billion TAM by reimagining customers’ core business processes and accelerating their journey toward fully agent-operated workflows.

    Across both segments, Copilot is emerging as a strategic differentiator for partners. The data is clear: those who deploy Copilot internally and become their own customer zero see greater customer success and faster revenue growth. By using the same tools they bring to market, partners can deliver more authentic demos, demonstrate real business outcomes, and guide customers with confidence. If you have not started your internal Copilot journey, now is the time. 
     

    Looking ahead

    AI is reshaping businesses, industries, and entire economies. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to define the future together, and Microsoft is dedicated to being a wholly committed partner along the way.

    • If you missed the MCAPS Start for Partners keynote or want to revisit key announcements, I encourage you to watch the keynote on demand.
    • Watch the breakout sessions on July 15 or check back on July 17 for a link to the recorded experience.
    • We also invite you to attend our upcoming MCI Partner sessions dedicated to assisting partners with questions related to new and/or existing incentive offers in MCI.
    • Join us for Microsoft Partner FY26 GTM Kickoff event on July 22 to learn about the go-to-market (GTM) priorities and initiatives planned for FY26 across Microsoft Business Applications and Modern Work.
    • Register for a Cloud & AI Platforms FY26 partner playbook walkthrough for systems integrators. Sign in to Teams and register for a morning or evening session.
    • Find out more about Azure Accelerate, our new holistic offering that brings together Azure Migrate and Modernize, Azure Innovate, and Cloud Accelerate Factory.

    The opportunity ahead is immense, and we are building the platform, programs, and incentives to enable you to deliver market-leading capability and customer success through our partnership.

    Thank you for all you have accomplished and all we will achieve together in FY26!

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: MCAPS Start for Partners: Accelerating growth and innovation together

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: MCAPS Start for Partners: Accelerating growth and innovation together

    Earlier this year, Microsoft celebrated its 50th anniversary, a journey powered by our partners from day one. As we begin the new fiscal year, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your bold innovation, trusted collaboration, and customer obsession. FY25 was one of the most transformative years in our history, and you made it possible.

    At MCAPS Start for Partners, we outlined the next chapter of opportunity powered by AI: customizable agents, copilots, and a new class of AI-first organizations we call Frontier Firms. These are next-generation organizations that blend AI-powered solutions with human leadership to operate with agility, scale, and value creation. These firms are not just adopting AI; they are redesigning their business models, workflows, and cultures around it. 
     

    FY26 priorities and solution areas

    As we look ahead to FY26, our focus is on translating this AI-powered vision into actionable priorities for our partners. To do this, we have made the decision to evolve our go-to-market approach around three solution areas, a strategic shift grounded in what customers are asking for and what’s resonating most in the market. 
     

     
     

    • AI Business Solutions: Scale Copilot across every device and role and drive strong execution in Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365.
    • Cloud & AI Platforms: Lead with Frontier AI innovations and accelerate cloud migrations and modernization.
    • Security: Strengthen and secure the cyber foundation.

    These solution areas are designed to mirror how customers think about their business challenges, making it easier for Microsoft and our partners to align solutions to those needs. They also provide a scalable, repeatable framework for how we engage across industries, segments, and geographies, enabling more consistent execution and deeper impact.

    As a partner-first company, our partner ecosystem is an extension of our sales organization, and this alignment deepens our unified approach to engaging customers. 
     

    Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

    The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program continues to be the primary way we engage and invest in our partner ecosystem. The program brings everything together across the whole of the partner lifecycle, including onboarding, skilling, go-to-market, co-selling, and incentives.

    Our commitment is to make the AI Cloud Partner Program a home for all partner types and to be agile to keep up with the innovation we are bringing to market, as well as customer demand. FY26 represents another record year of investment in the program, supporting partners with market-leading capability across their journey. 
     

    Expanded program benefits

    The program is designed to deliver value across every stage of the partner journey, offering targeted benefits that support growth and innovation.

    For software development companies, key offerings include access to the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, which enables partners to build, publish, and scale well-architected software solutions.

    To further support software partners, Microsoft is increasing Azure credits for those participating in Marketplace Rewards or who hold certified software designations. These benefits unlock valuable resources such as technical consultations, access to AI Foundry, GitHub and GitHub Copilot, exam vouchers, and additional rewards tied to marketplace performance.

    For services partners, we are expanding our benefits offerings by including the latest Microsoft products, increasing Copilot seats, and introducing tools like Copilot Studio, Dragon Copilot, and Microsoft 365 E5 Security. Based on partner feedback, the company is also enhancing benefit delivery through Modern Benefit Provisioning in Partner Center.

    In FY26, partners will also gain more flexibility by being able to combine or split their benefit packages across multiple tenants, enabling them to support operations in various global locations. 
     

    Skilling for the future and becoming customer zero

    Capability is the new currency. Skilling is one of the most important steps partners can take to earn designations, build trust, and accelerate differentiation. And becoming their own customer zero by using Microsoft AI solutions within their organization is what separates partners who lead from those who follow. With fast-moving tech cycles, staying skilled and hands-on is no longer optional; it is essential.

    In FY25, over three million learners upskilled across the Microsoft solution areas, with half of them in AI, Copilot, and Fabric. In FY26, we are expanding this momentum with additional opportunities:

    • Agentic AI skilling: hands-on technical training to skill partners to design and deploy intelligent agent solutions using Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry.
    • Hackathon-based training: enabling partners to build IP, earn certifications, and deliver revenue-generating AI engagements.
    • Regional in-person workshops and AI roadshows: providing immersive, peer-based skilling experiences.
    • CSP certification weeks and a Skilling in a Box initiative for distributors, scaling pre-sales and sales skilling to thousands of resellers.

    We encourage every partner to become customer zero and use the very tools they bring to market. This builds credibility, deepens insight, and increases their ability to guide customers through transformation. When their teams are hands-on with AI, the customer experience improves.

    Skilling is the engine behind that impact, and we are here to support partners every step of the way. Learn more about current skilling opportunities. 
     

    Unlocking growth through designations

    Designations and specializations remain key to how we showcase partner capabilities both to customers and internally across Microsoft’s field organization. In FY26, we are launching several new recognitions, including a Copilot specialization (launching this month), a Distributor designation, a Support designation, and a Sovereign Cloud specialization.

    In the second half of FY26, we will introduce two new device-driven designations in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. These are focused on unlocking commercial Windows growth, especially in SMB.

    • One designation recognizes OEM partners building modern, hybrid-ready Windows devices.
    • The second is for partners selling and deploying Windows Commercial devices, including Copilot+ PCs, with value across the full deployment lifecycle.

    These designations are focused on supporting the Windows 10 refresh cycle, accelerating Microsoft 365 adoption, and building trusted relationships through secure, AI-ready devices.

    We have also expanded SMB pathways for Security and Azure designations, with nearly 9,000 partners already achieving designations through these new routes. 
     

    Incentives to fuel growth

    We are also significantly increasing our investment across the business:

    • Enterprise Customer Investment Funds will grow ~20% year over year (YOY), enabling partners to deliver more AI design wins, migrations, and Copilot deployments.
    • In AI Business Solutions, we have increased Copilot funding by 50%, reflecting strong momentum and broadening accessibility across the workforce.
    • Microsoft 365 incentives are increasing by double digits.
    • Azure outcome-based incentives are up 70% YOY, rewarding partners for expanding workloads, driving seat growth, and deepening solution adoption.
    • We are strengthening our CSP incentives with a ~20% YOY increase to reward growth through new customer acquisition, upselling new workloads, and expanding existing relationships. To align our investments with our FY26 growth ambitions, we’re pulling forward the effective date of these incentives to July 1. This shift ensures a fast start to the year, enabling partners to accelerate execution, capture opportunity earlier, and drive measurable impact from day one. We’re structuring this opportunity to foster a more predictable and profitable environment as partners deliver strategic customer solutions.
    • We are also investing 15% more in Security, an increase from a significant investment base, to empower partner-led engagements that protect customers and open new business opportunities.

    Be sure to download our CSA incentives playbooks for guidance on the customer opportunity across each solution area, along with the resources available at each stage of customer engagement to help partners capture that opportunity.

    The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is the engine that fuels our ecosystem. We are committed to continual investment, flexibility, and shared success so that our program evolves in lockstep with our technology and the market. 
     

    Seizing the segment opportunity

    Across customer segments, we see real momentum and value creation through Microsoft’s AI platform, especially through Copilot and agents. Organizations are using AI to reshape how work gets done, reduce costs, and unlock net-new value.

    Microsoft estimates, based on IDC data, that in the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment, the total addressable market (TAM) will reach $777 billion by FY26 for organizations with fewer than 3,000 employees. This spans over 400 million organizations globally. Our Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners are playing a critical role as trusted advisors, with SMB and corporate seller-partner co-sell deals up significantly year over year.

    In the enterprise segment, partners are leading large-scale AI and cloud transformations across a $592 billion TAM by reimagining customers’ core business processes and accelerating their journey toward fully agent-operated workflows.

    Across both segments, Copilot is emerging as a strategic differentiator for partners. The data is clear: those who deploy Copilot internally and become their own customer zero see greater customer success and faster revenue growth. By using the same tools they bring to market, partners can deliver more authentic demos, demonstrate real business outcomes, and guide customers with confidence. If you have not started your internal Copilot journey, now is the time. 
     

    Looking ahead

    AI is reshaping businesses, industries, and entire economies. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to define the future together, and Microsoft is dedicated to being a wholly committed partner along the way.

    • If you missed the MCAPS Start for Partners keynote or want to revisit key announcements, I encourage you to watch the keynote on demand.
    • Watch the breakout sessions on July 15 or check back on July 17 for a link to the recorded experience.
    • We also invite you to attend our upcoming MCI Partner sessions dedicated to assisting partners with questions related to new and/or existing incentive offers in MCI.
    • Join us for Microsoft Partner FY26 GTM Kickoff event on July 22 to learn about the go-to-market (GTM) priorities and initiatives planned for FY26 across Microsoft Business Applications and Modern Work.
    • Register for a Cloud & AI Platforms FY26 partner playbook walkthrough for systems integrators. Sign in to Teams and register for a morning or evening session.
    • Find out more about Azure Accelerate, our new holistic offering that brings together Azure Migrate and Modernize, Azure Innovate, and Cloud Accelerate Factory.

    The opportunity ahead is immense, and we are building the platform, programs, and incentives to enable you to deliver market-leading capability and customer success through our partnership.

    Thank you for all you have accomplished and all we will achieve together in FY26!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Multiple Defendants Charged in Cockfighting and Illegal Gambling Operation

    Source: US FBI

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury charged multiple defendants for conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and operate an illegal gambling business, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. 

    A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges James Shawn Murphree, 48, of Blountsville, Alabama, Denny Gonzalez-Guzman, 30, of Albertville, Alabama, Kasten Finis Murphree, 22, of Blountsville, Alabama, Kelby Shawn Murphree, 27, of Blountsville, Alabama, and Kimberly Ann Evans, 48, of Hayden, Alabama, with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act and the Prohibition on Illegal Gambling Businesses. 

    According to the indictment, a cockfight is a contest where roosters fight each other. The fights are supervised by a referee, and the fight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue fighting. Typical cockfights employ weapons that are attached to the backs of the roosters’ legs.  Owners and operators of cockfighting arenas, called “pits,” hold organized fights where people can fight their trained roosters against other roosters in cockfighting tournaments called “derbies.” In a derby, large numbers of cockfighters pit their roosters against one another for entertainment.  Spectators gamble on the outcomes of the cockfights, and the owners of the roosters stand to gain financially through their own wager, an arrangement where the derby winners receive a pre-determined portion of the derby entry fees, or through the enhanced value of their winning roosters.

    The indictment alleges that between March 2025 and June 2025, Kimberly Evans, James Murphree, Kasten Murphree, and Kelby Murphree conspired to organize multiple cockfighting derbies in Blountsville, Alabama. Attendees paid $40 to watch the fight. Competitors who entered roosters in the derbies paid an entry fee between $700 and $1,000. The winner of the derby would receive a share of the prize pool money.  

    The Gulf of America (“GoA”) Homeland Security Task Force, in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, conducted this long-term investigation. The GoA Homeland Security Task Force is comprised of authorities from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This investigation and operation received significant support from the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Jonathan S. Cross are prosecuting the case.  

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Multiple Defendants Charged in Cockfighting and Illegal Gambling Operation

    Source: US FBI

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury charged multiple defendants for conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and operate an illegal gambling business, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. 

    A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges James Shawn Murphree, 48, of Blountsville, Alabama, Denny Gonzalez-Guzman, 30, of Albertville, Alabama, Kasten Finis Murphree, 22, of Blountsville, Alabama, Kelby Shawn Murphree, 27, of Blountsville, Alabama, and Kimberly Ann Evans, 48, of Hayden, Alabama, with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act and the Prohibition on Illegal Gambling Businesses. 

    According to the indictment, a cockfight is a contest where roosters fight each other. The fights are supervised by a referee, and the fight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue fighting. Typical cockfights employ weapons that are attached to the backs of the roosters’ legs.  Owners and operators of cockfighting arenas, called “pits,” hold organized fights where people can fight their trained roosters against other roosters in cockfighting tournaments called “derbies.” In a derby, large numbers of cockfighters pit their roosters against one another for entertainment.  Spectators gamble on the outcomes of the cockfights, and the owners of the roosters stand to gain financially through their own wager, an arrangement where the derby winners receive a pre-determined portion of the derby entry fees, or through the enhanced value of their winning roosters.

    The indictment alleges that between March 2025 and June 2025, Kimberly Evans, James Murphree, Kasten Murphree, and Kelby Murphree conspired to organize multiple cockfighting derbies in Blountsville, Alabama. Attendees paid $40 to watch the fight. Competitors who entered roosters in the derbies paid an entry fee between $700 and $1,000. The winner of the derby would receive a share of the prize pool money.  

    The Gulf of America (“GoA”) Homeland Security Task Force, in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, conducted this long-term investigation. The GoA Homeland Security Task Force is comprised of authorities from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This investigation and operation received significant support from the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Jonathan S. Cross are prosecuting the case.  

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: InboxAlly Wins 2025 Sammy Award for Growth Catalyst – Email

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY , July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — InboxAlly announced today that it has been named a winner in the 2025 Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards, presented by the Business Intelligence Group. The company was recognized in the category of Growth Catalyst – Email for its outstanding performance in advancing modern sales and marketing through strategy, innovation, or creativity.

    InboxAlly celebrates winning the 2025 Sammy Award for Growth Catalyst – Email, recognizing excellence in sales and marketing innovation.

    The Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards celebrate the organizations, products, campaigns, and individuals leading the way in go-to-market excellence. Winners were selected by a panel of expert judges based on performance, alignment with business outcomes, and measurable success.

    “Sales and marketing are now operating as one, which means success demands not just great ideas or great tools, but a team that brings both together,” said Russ Fordyce, CEO of the Business Intelligence Group. “The 2025 Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards honor those making that vision real. We’re excited to recognize InboxAlly for its leadership and results.”

    InboxAlly received recognition for its groundbreaking email deliverability platform that empowers users to improve inbox placement without compromising security or control. Its non-intrusive setup, real-time transparent reporting, and enterprise-ready scalability have made it the go-to solution for top agencies, consultants, and high-volume senders.

    “We are honored to be named a 2025 Sammy Award winner by the Business Intelligence Group,” said Darren Blumenfeld, CEO of InboxAlly. “This recognition highlights the impact InboxAlly delivers every day by helping our customers grow their business and turn email into a more reliable, revenue-generating channel.”

    To learn more about the Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards, visit:

    https://www.bintelligence.com/awards/sammy-awards

    About InboxAlly

    Founded in 2019, InboxAlly is a leading email deliverability platform trusted by agencies, consultants, and high-volume senders. Our mission is to help email professionals achieve consistent inbox placement and better engagement without switching email service providers or exposing sensitive access. With advanced customization, real-time reporting, and a non-intrusive setup, InboxAlly empowers users to recover sender reputation, improve performance, and scale safely. Backed by exceptional support and a results-driven approach, InboxAlly is the go-to solution for those who demand smarter, more reliable email outcomes.

    About Business Intelligence Group

    The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives with real-world experience. The organization’s proprietary scoring system measures performance across multiple business domains and rewards companies whose achievements are significant and measurable.

    Press inquiries

    InboxAlly
    https://www.inboxally.com
    Vivian Bastos
    vivian@inboxally.com
    1178 Broadway
    3rd Floor #1166
    New York, NY 10001

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: InboxAlly Wins 2025 Sammy Award for Growth Catalyst – Email

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY , July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — InboxAlly announced today that it has been named a winner in the 2025 Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards, presented by the Business Intelligence Group. The company was recognized in the category of Growth Catalyst – Email for its outstanding performance in advancing modern sales and marketing through strategy, innovation, or creativity.

    InboxAlly celebrates winning the 2025 Sammy Award for Growth Catalyst – Email, recognizing excellence in sales and marketing innovation.

    The Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards celebrate the organizations, products, campaigns, and individuals leading the way in go-to-market excellence. Winners were selected by a panel of expert judges based on performance, alignment with business outcomes, and measurable success.

    “Sales and marketing are now operating as one, which means success demands not just great ideas or great tools, but a team that brings both together,” said Russ Fordyce, CEO of the Business Intelligence Group. “The 2025 Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards honor those making that vision real. We’re excited to recognize InboxAlly for its leadership and results.”

    InboxAlly received recognition for its groundbreaking email deliverability platform that empowers users to improve inbox placement without compromising security or control. Its non-intrusive setup, real-time transparent reporting, and enterprise-ready scalability have made it the go-to solution for top agencies, consultants, and high-volume senders.

    “We are honored to be named a 2025 Sammy Award winner by the Business Intelligence Group,” said Darren Blumenfeld, CEO of InboxAlly. “This recognition highlights the impact InboxAlly delivers every day by helping our customers grow their business and turn email into a more reliable, revenue-generating channel.”

    To learn more about the Sammy – Sales and Marketing Awards, visit:

    https://www.bintelligence.com/awards/sammy-awards

    About InboxAlly

    Founded in 2019, InboxAlly is a leading email deliverability platform trusted by agencies, consultants, and high-volume senders. Our mission is to help email professionals achieve consistent inbox placement and better engagement without switching email service providers or exposing sensitive access. With advanced customization, real-time reporting, and a non-intrusive setup, InboxAlly empowers users to recover sender reputation, improve performance, and scale safely. Backed by exceptional support and a results-driven approach, InboxAlly is the go-to solution for those who demand smarter, more reliable email outcomes.

    About Business Intelligence Group

    The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives with real-world experience. The organization’s proprietary scoring system measures performance across multiple business domains and rewards companies whose achievements are significant and measurable.

    Press inquiries

    InboxAlly
    https://www.inboxally.com
    Vivian Bastos
    vivian@inboxally.com
    1178 Broadway
    3rd Floor #1166
    New York, NY 10001

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Commerce Ends Supension Agreement, Reinstating Tomato Tariffs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) released the following statement following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s termination of the 2019 Suspension Agreement on fresh tomatoes from Mexico:

    “For far too long, American tomato growers—especially those in Florida—have been forced to compete against artificially low prices driven by unfair trade practices,” said Congresswoman Cammack. “The termination of this agreement sends a clear message: we’re standing up for American farmers and restoring integrity to our agricultural markets. Food security is national security. Our farmers deserve a fair shot to compete—and this marks a critical step forward in making that possible. I am grateful to the Trump Administration and Secretary Lutnick for their unwavering support.”

    Background:
    Florida is one of the nation’s largest tomato-producing states, and growers have long raised concerns about the impact of dumped Mexican imports on their ability to stay in business. The 2019 Suspension Agreement halted anti-dumping duties on Mexican tomatoes in exchange for price and volume restrictions from Mexican exporters. With yesterday’s decision, those duties will now go into effect, with most imports subject to a 20.91% tariff. This decision is widely seen as a victory for domestic agriculture and a meaningful step toward fairer trade enforcement.

    “Yesterday’s decision is an enormous victory for American tomato farmers and American agriculture. We’re grateful for the decisive, bold, and crucial action taken by the Trump administration to terminate the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement,” said Florida Tomato. “This decision will protect hardworking American tomato growers from unfair Mexican trading practices and send a strong signal that the Trump administration is committed to ensuring fair markets for American agriculture. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recognized that five previous agreements with Mexico had failed and that strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws is needed to protect the stability of our food supply chain. We would also like to thank Rep. Kat Cammack and all our champions in Congress, tomato growers from across the country, and allied organizations from different regions, commodities, and states representing a broad cross-section of fruit and vegetable growers in the United States.”

    “Today marks a significant victory for growers across the U.S. The termination of the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement by the administration signals a positive movement toward fairer competition, not only for tomato growers but for all specialty crop producers nationwide. For too long, unfair Mexican tomato imports have been dumped into the U.S. market, injuring the U.S. industry,” said the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. “This action demonstrates that U.S. trade laws can protect American farmers and ensures that U.S. consumers have access to locally grown fruits and vegetables. We are grateful for the relentless advocacy of Congresswoman Kat Cammack and the Florida Congressional Delegation to level the playing field for growers. The future of the industry is stronger without the undue pressures of unfair foreign trade.”

    “We are grateful to Congresswoman Cammack for her tireless efforts to ensure the voices of growers, trade officials, and industry leaders were heard,” said Tony DiMare, President of DiMare Fresh. “Her leadership and persistence were critical in bringing an end to a flawed agreement that, for years, disadvantaged American tomato producers. We sincerely appreciate her steadfast commitment to fairness, accountability, and the defense of American agriculture.”

    “Florida’s farmers have faced unfair trade pressures for far too long, and today’s decision is a meaningful step toward restoring fairness in the market,” said Jeb S. Smith, President of Florida Farm Bureau Federation. “We commend the U.S. Department of Commerce for recognizing the harm caused by dumped Mexican tomato imports and thank Congresswoman Kat Cammack for her unwavering support of Florida agriculture. This action reinforces that American farmers deserve a level playing field and that our nation is serious about safeguarding its domestic food supply.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: ModelOp Appoints Ex-Strategy Executive, Alex Rice, as Director of Partnerships

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ModelOp, the leading AI lifecycle automation and governance software for enterprises, announced today the appointment of Alex Rice as its new Director of Partnerships. Rice will lead ModelOp’s global partnership strategies; form partnerships with technology ecosystems like Snowflake, AWS and others; and develop programs to scale and grow pipeline.

    With extensive experience in business development, including more than a decade orchestrating strategic tech and SI partnerships at Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), Rice is a leader in building global partner ecosystems for AI + data analytics software platforms. He is widely known for his ability to build high-impact connections and deliver measurable growth across multiple industry markets while scaling up global partnership programs.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Alex – his expertise will be valuable as we power up our expansion and growth through new partnerships,” said Pete Foley, CEO of ModelOp. “Our technology is a game-changing advancement for complex and regulated enterprises struggling with ‘AI sprawl’ – namely fragmented innovation, invisible risk, and compliance chaos. ModelOp is the AI control tower for all AI inititives—including ML, GenAI, and Agentic AI—enabling enterprises to accelerate AI innovation and scale with confidence. Alex’s exceptional knowledge of the industry will deliver real results – he knows how to connect people and build trust while opening new revenue channels and forging predictable growth.”

    “I’m excited to join the ModelOp team as the stakes for excellence in AI governance are rising exponentially,” said Rice. “Enterprises are already moving from GenAI to Agentic AI and while these systems promise transformative productivity gains, they also come with unprecedented risk – ModelOp is purpose-built for this future.”

    Visit https://www.modelop.com/ to learn more about ModelOp.

    About ModelOp
    ModelOp is the leader in AI lifecycle automation and governance software, purpose-built for enterprises. It enables organizations to bring all of their AI initiatives – from ML and GenAI to agents and Agentic AI – to market faster, at scale, and with the confidence of end-to-end control, oversight, and value realization. ModelOp is used by the most complex and regulated institutions in the world – including major banks, insurers, regulatory bodies, healthcare organizations, and global CPG companies – because it delivers the structure, automation, and oversight necessary to operationalize AI at scale across the entire enterprise. In 2024, ModelOp received the prestigious AI Breakthrough Award for “Best AI Governance Platform” and was also recognized as a winner in Inc.’s Best in Business Awards in the AI & Data category. In 2025, it was awarded the “Best AI Governance Software Award” from Netty Awards and received Business Intelligence Group’s Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award. Follow ModelOp on LinkedIn.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d04acdd5-76d1-44d3-a3d5-ee16317c0535

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán Follows Up on Exchange with HHS Secretary Kennedy on Alzheimer’s Research During Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    15 July 2025

    Contact: Jin Choi

    Rep. Barragán Follows Up on Exchange with HHS Secretary Kennedy on Alzheimer’s Research During Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy following up on comments and commitments the Secretary made related to Alzheimer’s disease research at the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget” on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

    The National Institute of Health (NIH) funds 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the country. Since the start of the Trump Administration and DOGE’s attacks on critical research, 13 ADRCs have experienced funding reductions of $65 million in 2025. Currently, another 14 ADRCs are up for renewal in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

    The letter clarifies the facts about the status of federally-funded Alzheimer’s research after Secretary Kennedy suggested that what the Congresswoman shared about these cuts was untrue.

    “It’s extremely disappointing that our nation’s top health official was unaware of devastating cuts to research that prevents access to clinical trials and other critical services for people living with devastating Alzheimer’s and their caregivers,” said Rep. Barragán. “I urge Secretary Kennedy to honor his words and ensure full funding of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers up for renewal in 2026. These Centers are funded with bipartisanship support in Congress. This should be a non-partisan priority. Families battling Alzheimer’s can’t afford funding delays, conspiracy theories, or ideological budgets. They need answers, treatments, and hope now.”

    The letter also urges a commitment in writing following an exchange during the hearing when Congresswoman Barragán asked Secretary Kennedy to commit to fully funding the 14 ADRCs up for renewal in FY26, and the Secretary responded that is something he was willing to work together on.

    About Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers

    Established in 1984 as NIH Centers of Excellence, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCS) are conducting research and translating scientific advances into improved diagnosis and care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. ADRCs have supported access to over 325 clinical trial opportunities between 2017 and 2022, provided evaluations and diagnoses for nearly 30,000 individuals living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment since 2005, and offered a range of supportive and informational resources, including referrals to clinical trials, for ADRC research participants living with dementia and their caregivers as well as for professional providers. Although each Center has its own area of research emphasis, the ADRCs work together as a network to enhance research, sharing new research ideas, approaches, diseases, and samples.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Chalk River Laboratories Becomes First GLP-Certified Laboratory in Canada to Offer Pre-Clinical Radiopharmaceutical Studies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHALK RIVER, Ontario, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that the Chalk River Laboratories has become the first Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) certified laboratory in Canada that is capable of performing radioactive work and pre-clinical radiopharmaceutical contract research. The enhanced certification follows a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) audit that granted CNL full GLP recognition, a designation that adheres to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) protocols, and standards required by national and international regulators, including Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

    GLP recognition demonstrates that CNL meets internationally recognized standards for laboratory studies, ensuring the reliability, reproducibility, and integrity of the data generated, and is critical for laboratories conducting radiopharmaceutical testing and evaluation. CNL can now perform GLP compliant studies within its Biological Research Facility (BRF) and its Analytical Chemistry laboratories, through capabilities the are unique in Canada to perform radiopharmaceutical testing and evaluation. This presents a wide range of new and exciting commercial and partnership opportunities to Canada’s national nuclear laboratory.

    “Securing GLP recognition for the Chalk River Laboratories is a significant milestone that comes at a time when the global radiopharmaceutical industry is experiencing exceptional growth and Canada is playing an industry defining role,” commented Dr. Marie-Claude Gregoire, Head of CNL’s Isotopes, Radiobiology and Environment Directorate. “Given our capabilities to safely access and manage a wide range of radioactive materials, it also distinguishes CNL from other contract research organizations in Canada, positioning the Chalk River Laboratories campus as a ‘one-stop shop’ to conduct innovative pre-clinical radiopharmaceuticals studies. Overall, we believe this designation fulfills an unmet need in the Canadian and global radiopharmaceutical market and will further expand what has been a growing source of revenue for CNL.”

    Administered by the SCC, GLP recognition ensures a high degree of quality assurance and data integrity for laboratory contract research and enables full traceability and curation of information. In recent years, CNL has expanded its preclinical and radiopharmaceutical capabilities and launched collaborative programs to advance knowledge and pursue new commercial opportunities. This includes GLP analytical and toxicology studies, formulation optimization, biodistribution studies, in-vitro assays and other pre-clinical studies conducted on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, government bodies, and regulatory agencies. GLP studies is a phase of preclinical research conducted prior to clinical trials in humans, and typically yields information about a drug’s safety and toxicity in animal models.

    The GLP studies and preclinical research is largely carried out at CNL’s BRF, which is a 1,600 m2 state-of-the-art facility designed to support animal and animal tissue-based studies, featuring capabilities that support radiation, radionuclide and carcinogen-based testing and experimentation that are unique in Canada. The BRF houses environmentally controlled, specific pathogen-free laboratories dedicated to biological research, which includes cell and molecular biology, histology and tissue processing, hematology, tissue culture and animal procedures. This facility houses over 20,000 mice at full capacity. With full GLP recognition now in place, the facility will increasingly serve as a national facility dedicated to advancing innovative, next-generation radiopharmaceuticals, medical isotopes and cancer treatments towards clinical testing and real-world use.

    “Recent advances in radioligand therapy are enabling better outcomes for cancer patients. This is driving a rebirth of the radiopharmaceutical industry and spurring unprecedented growth, with current forecasts estimating that this market would grow from a $9.3 Billion market in 2023 to a $42 Billion market by 2033,” commented George Baidoo, CNL’s Technical Director, Health in Business Development. “The message that we want to send to the radiopharmaceutical industry today is that CNL can work with radioactive materials within GLP certified laboratories, a very unique capability that addresses an unmet need in the industry. By leveraging the assets of Canada’s national nuclear laboratory, CNL can provide needed preclinical radiopharmaceutical R&D services, coupled with GLP capabilities, to help advance and accelerate new therapies from bench to bedside.”

    CNL’s Biological Research Facility and Analytical Chemistry services are part of a broader series of laboratories and programs that CNL maintains in health studies and dosimetry services, including animal studies, isotope production and processing, targeted radionuclide therapies, and waste management solutions. For more information on CNL’s research in health sciences, including its Biological Research Facility, please visit www.cnl.ca/health.

    About CNL

    As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

    By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector, and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

    To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.

    CNL Contact:
    Philip Kompass
    Director, Corporate Communications
    1-866-886-2325
    media@cnl.ca

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45b7fbd5-d415-449c-85b9-c0dcb4006b03

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán Follows Up on Exchange with HHS Secretary Kennedy on Alzheimer’s Research During Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    15 July 2025

    Contact: Jin Choi

    Rep. Barragán Follows Up on Exchange with HHS Secretary Kennedy on Alzheimer’s Research During Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy following up on comments and commitments the Secretary made related to Alzheimer’s disease research at the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget” on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

    The National Institute of Health (NIH) funds 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the country. Since the start of the Trump Administration and DOGE’s attacks on critical research, 13 ADRCs have experienced funding reductions of $65 million in 2025. Currently, another 14 ADRCs are up for renewal in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

    The letter clarifies the facts about the status of federally-funded Alzheimer’s research after Secretary Kennedy suggested that what the Congresswoman shared about these cuts was untrue.

    “It’s extremely disappointing that our nation’s top health official was unaware of devastating cuts to research that prevents access to clinical trials and other critical services for people living with devastating Alzheimer’s and their caregivers,” said Rep. Barragán. “I urge Secretary Kennedy to honor his words and ensure full funding of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers up for renewal in 2026. These Centers are funded with bipartisanship support in Congress. This should be a non-partisan priority. Families battling Alzheimer’s can’t afford funding delays, conspiracy theories, or ideological budgets. They need answers, treatments, and hope now.”

    The letter also urges a commitment in writing following an exchange during the hearing when Congresswoman Barragán asked Secretary Kennedy to commit to fully funding the 14 ADRCs up for renewal in FY26, and the Secretary responded that is something he was willing to work together on.

    About Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers

    Established in 1984 as NIH Centers of Excellence, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCS) are conducting research and translating scientific advances into improved diagnosis and care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. ADRCs have supported access to over 325 clinical trial opportunities between 2017 and 2022, provided evaluations and diagnoses for nearly 30,000 individuals living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment since 2005, and offered a range of supportive and informational resources, including referrals to clinical trials, for ADRC research participants living with dementia and their caregivers as well as for professional providers. Although each Center has its own area of research emphasis, the ADRCs work together as a network to enhance research, sharing new research ideas, approaches, diseases, and samples.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán Follows Up on Exchange with HHS Secretary Kennedy on Alzheimer’s Research During Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    15 July 2025

    Contact: Jin Choi

    Rep. Barragán Follows Up on Exchange with HHS Secretary Kennedy on Alzheimer’s Research During Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy following up on comments and commitments the Secretary made related to Alzheimer’s disease research at the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget” on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

    The National Institute of Health (NIH) funds 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the country. Since the start of the Trump Administration and DOGE’s attacks on critical research, 13 ADRCs have experienced funding reductions of $65 million in 2025. Currently, another 14 ADRCs are up for renewal in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

    The letter clarifies the facts about the status of federally-funded Alzheimer’s research after Secretary Kennedy suggested that what the Congresswoman shared about these cuts was untrue.

    “It’s extremely disappointing that our nation’s top health official was unaware of devastating cuts to research that prevents access to clinical trials and other critical services for people living with devastating Alzheimer’s and their caregivers,” said Rep. Barragán. “I urge Secretary Kennedy to honor his words and ensure full funding of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers up for renewal in 2026. These Centers are funded with bipartisanship support in Congress. This should be a non-partisan priority. Families battling Alzheimer’s can’t afford funding delays, conspiracy theories, or ideological budgets. They need answers, treatments, and hope now.”

    The letter also urges a commitment in writing following an exchange during the hearing when Congresswoman Barragán asked Secretary Kennedy to commit to fully funding the 14 ADRCs up for renewal in FY26, and the Secretary responded that is something he was willing to work together on.

    About Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers

    Established in 1984 as NIH Centers of Excellence, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCS) are conducting research and translating scientific advances into improved diagnosis and care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. ADRCs have supported access to over 325 clinical trial opportunities between 2017 and 2022, provided evaluations and diagnoses for nearly 30,000 individuals living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment since 2005, and offered a range of supportive and informational resources, including referrals to clinical trials, for ADRC research participants living with dementia and their caregivers as well as for professional providers. Although each Center has its own area of research emphasis, the ADRCs work together as a network to enhance research, sharing new research ideas, approaches, diseases, and samples.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CRTC consults to help improve Canada’s public alerting system

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 15, 2025—Gatineau — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    Today, the CRTC is launching a public consultation to help improve the National Public Alerting System (NPAS).

    The NPAS is used by emergency management officials across Canada to warn the public about emergency situations like severe weather events and other potential concerns to public safety.

    This system is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments and agencies. The CRTC plays a supporting role by requiring cellphone, cable and satellite television providers, and radio and television broadcasters to distribute emergency alerts to the public.

    Through this consultation, the CRTC is reviewing how public alerts are distributed in Canada. The goal is to help improve the NPAS, including by improving the accessibility of alerts, considering whether alerts should be distributed in languages that reflect local communities, and ensuring that they are available across the country.

    The CRTC is accepting comments until October 14, 2025. Interested persons can participate by:

    All comments will form part of the public record and will inform the CRTC’s decision.

    This consultation follows a number of recent actions the CRTC has taken to help protect Canadians. To find out more, check out the CRTC’s Consumer Protections Action Plan.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Health Subcommittee Chairman Griffith Visits SWVA Rural Health Care Providers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    ICYMI: Health Subcommittee Chairman Griffith Visits SWVA Rural Health Care Providers

    In his first public actions since being named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA) visited multiple rural health care providers in Virginia’s Ninth District. For information on each visit, please see below:

    Wednesday visit to Lee County Community Hospital with Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.

    Wednesday visit to Clinch Valley Medical Center.

    Wednesday visit to LewisGale Hospital Montgomery.

    Thursday visit to Connect Health + Wellness.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, Duckworth’s She DRIVES Act Featured on ‘CBS Mornings’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Click the image above to watch the CBS Mornings segment.

    Click here to download audio.
    Click here to download video.

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss their bipartisan bill, the She Develops Regulations in Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act.

    The legislation will modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy—and updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.

    The bill was introduced in January, passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February, and now awaits full Senate consideration. It is supported by Drive US Forward, Women Drive Too, and the National Safety Council.

    On the She DRIVES Act:

    Fischer: “Whether driving or as passengers, we want to make sure that women are safe when they get in a vehicle.”

    Duckworth:     “We’re taking the next step. And let’s see if we can’t remedy the situation.”

    Fischer: “And make it safer. …”

    Duckworth: “So that all those moms and daughters and sisters and best friends come home.”

     

    Background:

    Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.

    A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

    Click here to read the text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, Duckworth’s She DRIVES Act Featured on ‘CBS Mornings’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Click the image above to watch the CBS Mornings segment.

    Click here to download audio.
    Click here to download video.

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss their bipartisan bill, the She Develops Regulations in Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act.

    The legislation will modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy—and updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.

    The bill was introduced in January, passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February, and now awaits full Senate consideration. It is supported by Drive US Forward, Women Drive Too, and the National Safety Council.

    On the She DRIVES Act:

    Fischer: “Whether driving or as passengers, we want to make sure that women are safe when they get in a vehicle.”

    Duckworth:     “We’re taking the next step. And let’s see if we can’t remedy the situation.”

    Fischer: “And make it safer. …”

    Duckworth: “So that all those moms and daughters and sisters and best friends come home.”

     

    Background:

    Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.

    A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

    Click here to read the text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, Duckworth’s She DRIVES Act Featured on ‘CBS Mornings’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Click the image above to watch the CBS Mornings segment.

    Click here to download audio.
    Click here to download video.

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss their bipartisan bill, the She Develops Regulations in Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act.

    The legislation will modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy—and updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.

    The bill was introduced in January, passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February, and now awaits full Senate consideration. It is supported by Drive US Forward, Women Drive Too, and the National Safety Council.

    On the She DRIVES Act:

    Fischer: “Whether driving or as passengers, we want to make sure that women are safe when they get in a vehicle.”

    Duckworth:     “We’re taking the next step. And let’s see if we can’t remedy the situation.”

    Fischer: “And make it safer. …”

    Duckworth: “So that all those moms and daughters and sisters and best friends come home.”

     

    Background:

    Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.

    A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

    Click here to read the text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations (UN) calls on to stress more control over grain traders

    Source: APO

    The trend towards monopolization of grain trade that exists in the global market today requires the BRICS countries to cooperate in the field of antitrust policy and antitrust legislation. Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre at the Higher School of Economics (www.BRICSCompetition.org), said at the 9th UN Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in Geneva. 

    “Global companies from the food sector should receive the closest attention from antitrust authorities. We emphasize the importance of ensuring food security and nutrition and mitigating the impacts of acute food price volatility, as well as as abrupt supply crises, including fertilizers shortages. The authority of grain traders is highly similar to that of the organizers of digital ecosystems, the digital giants that have already come under scrutiny by antitrust authorities around the world. Under exceptional circumstances of supply shortages or acute food price spikes affecting a BRICS member, we recognize that cooperation initiatives can facilitate emergency responses and natural disaster management, guided by national priorities and consistent with the World Trade Organization rules. None of these measures should lead to unfair trade practices or violations of international trade norms, as their sole purpose is to support food security and nutrition, including through international solidarity.”, – Ivanov emphasized. 

    “A very telling event has recently taken place – the merger of two major grain traders, Bunge and Viterra. This merger was approved just last week by 31 competition authorities around the world. At the same time, no measures were proposed to limit the influence of these companies on the global value chain – the power that has a huge influence on the global market and the organization of grain trade,” Ivanov said. 

    He noted that regulators in Brazil and China have already raised concerns, such as the issue of price shifting from global to national markets, but no commitments have been established to address these concerns. 

    Anastasia Nesvetailova, Head, Macroeconomic and Development Policies Branch, UNCTAD, emphasized the growing influence of financialization on global food markets. Of particular concern, she noted, is the dominance of the so-called ABCD group — ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus — which effectively controls global agricultural trading. Three of these companies do not disclose sufficient information, rendering the sector highly opaque and poorly regulated. 

    According to Nesvetailova, 70% of transactions on U.S. and European commodity markets today are speculative in nature and disconnected from the real economy. The financial power of commodity traders is increasing, as they evolve into non-bank financial institutions with systemic influence not only on commodity markets but also on global financial stability. Meanwhile, oversight of their operations remains fragmented and ineffective. 

    “The last time such practices had a systemically destructive impact was in 2007, when an expanding web of debt-driven financial obligations operated largely outside regulatory oversight, ultimately leading to the collapse of the banking system in the U.S. and beyond. A similar scenario could unfold again — this time in the commodity trading sector,” warned Nesvetailova. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations (UN) calls on to stress more control over grain traders

    Source: APO

    The trend towards monopolization of grain trade that exists in the global market today requires the BRICS countries to cooperate in the field of antitrust policy and antitrust legislation. Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre at the Higher School of Economics (www.BRICSCompetition.org), said at the 9th UN Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in Geneva. 

    “Global companies from the food sector should receive the closest attention from antitrust authorities. We emphasize the importance of ensuring food security and nutrition and mitigating the impacts of acute food price volatility, as well as as abrupt supply crises, including fertilizers shortages. The authority of grain traders is highly similar to that of the organizers of digital ecosystems, the digital giants that have already come under scrutiny by antitrust authorities around the world. Under exceptional circumstances of supply shortages or acute food price spikes affecting a BRICS member, we recognize that cooperation initiatives can facilitate emergency responses and natural disaster management, guided by national priorities and consistent with the World Trade Organization rules. None of these measures should lead to unfair trade practices or violations of international trade norms, as their sole purpose is to support food security and nutrition, including through international solidarity.”, – Ivanov emphasized. 

    “A very telling event has recently taken place – the merger of two major grain traders, Bunge and Viterra. This merger was approved just last week by 31 competition authorities around the world. At the same time, no measures were proposed to limit the influence of these companies on the global value chain – the power that has a huge influence on the global market and the organization of grain trade,” Ivanov said. 

    He noted that regulators in Brazil and China have already raised concerns, such as the issue of price shifting from global to national markets, but no commitments have been established to address these concerns. 

    Anastasia Nesvetailova, Head, Macroeconomic and Development Policies Branch, UNCTAD, emphasized the growing influence of financialization on global food markets. Of particular concern, she noted, is the dominance of the so-called ABCD group — ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus — which effectively controls global agricultural trading. Three of these companies do not disclose sufficient information, rendering the sector highly opaque and poorly regulated. 

    According to Nesvetailova, 70% of transactions on U.S. and European commodity markets today are speculative in nature and disconnected from the real economy. The financial power of commodity traders is increasing, as they evolve into non-bank financial institutions with systemic influence not only on commodity markets but also on global financial stability. Meanwhile, oversight of their operations remains fragmented and ineffective. 

    “The last time such practices had a systemically destructive impact was in 2007, when an expanding web of debt-driven financial obligations operated largely outside regulatory oversight, ultimately leading to the collapse of the banking system in the U.S. and beyond. A similar scenario could unfold again — this time in the commodity trading sector,” warned Nesvetailova. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortuna Investments Expands to Midland, Texas, Strengthening Its Footprint in America’s Energy and Innovation Corridor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDLAND, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortuna Investments, a leading America-first venture capital firm, is proud to announce the expansion of its operations into Midland, Texas, where it will build upon its strategic focus on rare earth elements, space infrastructure, and uranium and nuclear energy. Known for its bold investments in critical, high-growth sectors, Fortuna continues to deepen its national presence—now with a strategic location in the heart of Texas to complement its existing offices in Los Angeles and Miami.

    Midland, long recognized as a hub of American energy production and resilience, reflects the grit, tenacity, and values that define Fortuna’s mission. “The people of Midland embody the same strength and entrepreneurial spirit that drive our firm, so this is a natural next step for us,” said Justus Parmar, Founder and CEO of Fortuna Investments.

    Texas continues to thrive as a pro-business powerhouse—with a culture of entrepreneurship, no state income tax, and a rapidly growing capital markets ecosystem. The recent announcement of a Texas-based stock exchange adds even more momentum to the state’s financial future, offering local investors and companies new platforms for liquidity and capital formation.

    Midland is central to Fortuna’s strategy of investing in American ingenuity and potential. As the Permian Basin’s energy epicenter, the city hosts a deep concentration of independent energy wealth, legacy capital, and long-term investors. These characteristics align seamlessly with Fortuna’s model of disciplined, asset-backed growth investing.

    Fortuna already holds key strategic assets across Texas, including:

    • The PEAK Project — A developing rare earth elements mine vital to securing domestic supply chains.
    • Space Infrastructure — With emerging assets based in Midland’s aerospace corridor.
    • Uranium and Nuclear Holdings — Supporting U.S. energy security and the growing nuclear renaissance.

    “As global markets shift, and the demand for critical materials and energy grows, our presence in Midland positions us to lead from the front,” said Parmar. “We believe this expansion strengthens our ability to drive value and national significance across the sectors we champion.”

    Fortuna’s Midland office will be located at 223 W. Wall Street, STE 200 in Midland. Oscar Garcia has been brought on in the role of Business Development and Corporate Strategy Lead to head the local team.

    For more information, visit https://investfortuna.com or email deals@investfortuna.com.

    About Fortuna Investments

    Founded in 2015 by Justus Parmar, Fortuna Investments is a private investment firm that develops long-term partnerships with change-making entrepreneurs in emerging industries. Fortuna specializes in venture capital investments and has led and advised on over $1 billion in transactions since its founding.

    Fortuna’s investments are concentrated in several high-growth sectors, including aerospace and defense, rare earth elements, uranium mining and nuclear technology, electronic waste refining, and robotics. The firm routinely invests for the long term and takes an active operating role.

    In 2020, the firm’s leadership group launched the Fortuna Foundation, an independent charitable organization that supports initiatives dedicated to promoting mental health, education, financial literacy and other community organizations in need.

    More information can be found at https://investfortuna.com/. Follow Justus Parmar on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

    Media Contact:

    Will Butler
    fortuna@dlpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortuna Investments Expands to Midland, Texas, Strengthening Its Footprint in America’s Energy and Innovation Corridor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDLAND, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortuna Investments, a leading America-first venture capital firm, is proud to announce the expansion of its operations into Midland, Texas, where it will build upon its strategic focus on rare earth elements, space infrastructure, and uranium and nuclear energy. Known for its bold investments in critical, high-growth sectors, Fortuna continues to deepen its national presence—now with a strategic location in the heart of Texas to complement its existing offices in Los Angeles and Miami.

    Midland, long recognized as a hub of American energy production and resilience, reflects the grit, tenacity, and values that define Fortuna’s mission. “The people of Midland embody the same strength and entrepreneurial spirit that drive our firm, so this is a natural next step for us,” said Justus Parmar, Founder and CEO of Fortuna Investments.

    Texas continues to thrive as a pro-business powerhouse—with a culture of entrepreneurship, no state income tax, and a rapidly growing capital markets ecosystem. The recent announcement of a Texas-based stock exchange adds even more momentum to the state’s financial future, offering local investors and companies new platforms for liquidity and capital formation.

    Midland is central to Fortuna’s strategy of investing in American ingenuity and potential. As the Permian Basin’s energy epicenter, the city hosts a deep concentration of independent energy wealth, legacy capital, and long-term investors. These characteristics align seamlessly with Fortuna’s model of disciplined, asset-backed growth investing.

    Fortuna already holds key strategic assets across Texas, including:

    • The PEAK Project — A developing rare earth elements mine vital to securing domestic supply chains.
    • Space Infrastructure — With emerging assets based in Midland’s aerospace corridor.
    • Uranium and Nuclear Holdings — Supporting U.S. energy security and the growing nuclear renaissance.

    “As global markets shift, and the demand for critical materials and energy grows, our presence in Midland positions us to lead from the front,” said Parmar. “We believe this expansion strengthens our ability to drive value and national significance across the sectors we champion.”

    Fortuna’s Midland office will be located at 223 W. Wall Street, STE 200 in Midland. Oscar Garcia has been brought on in the role of Business Development and Corporate Strategy Lead to head the local team.

    For more information, visit https://investfortuna.com or email deals@investfortuna.com.

    About Fortuna Investments

    Founded in 2015 by Justus Parmar, Fortuna Investments is a private investment firm that develops long-term partnerships with change-making entrepreneurs in emerging industries. Fortuna specializes in venture capital investments and has led and advised on over $1 billion in transactions since its founding.

    Fortuna’s investments are concentrated in several high-growth sectors, including aerospace and defense, rare earth elements, uranium mining and nuclear technology, electronic waste refining, and robotics. The firm routinely invests for the long term and takes an active operating role.

    In 2020, the firm’s leadership group launched the Fortuna Foundation, an independent charitable organization that supports initiatives dedicated to promoting mental health, education, financial literacy and other community organizations in need.

    More information can be found at https://investfortuna.com/. Follow Justus Parmar on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

    Media Contact:

    Will Butler
    fortuna@dlpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortuna Investments Expands to Midland, Texas, Strengthening Its Footprint in America’s Energy and Innovation Corridor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDLAND, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortuna Investments, a leading America-first venture capital firm, is proud to announce the expansion of its operations into Midland, Texas, where it will build upon its strategic focus on rare earth elements, space infrastructure, and uranium and nuclear energy. Known for its bold investments in critical, high-growth sectors, Fortuna continues to deepen its national presence—now with a strategic location in the heart of Texas to complement its existing offices in Los Angeles and Miami.

    Midland, long recognized as a hub of American energy production and resilience, reflects the grit, tenacity, and values that define Fortuna’s mission. “The people of Midland embody the same strength and entrepreneurial spirit that drive our firm, so this is a natural next step for us,” said Justus Parmar, Founder and CEO of Fortuna Investments.

    Texas continues to thrive as a pro-business powerhouse—with a culture of entrepreneurship, no state income tax, and a rapidly growing capital markets ecosystem. The recent announcement of a Texas-based stock exchange adds even more momentum to the state’s financial future, offering local investors and companies new platforms for liquidity and capital formation.

    Midland is central to Fortuna’s strategy of investing in American ingenuity and potential. As the Permian Basin’s energy epicenter, the city hosts a deep concentration of independent energy wealth, legacy capital, and long-term investors. These characteristics align seamlessly with Fortuna’s model of disciplined, asset-backed growth investing.

    Fortuna already holds key strategic assets across Texas, including:

    • The PEAK Project — A developing rare earth elements mine vital to securing domestic supply chains.
    • Space Infrastructure — With emerging assets based in Midland’s aerospace corridor.
    • Uranium and Nuclear Holdings — Supporting U.S. energy security and the growing nuclear renaissance.

    “As global markets shift, and the demand for critical materials and energy grows, our presence in Midland positions us to lead from the front,” said Parmar. “We believe this expansion strengthens our ability to drive value and national significance across the sectors we champion.”

    Fortuna’s Midland office will be located at 223 W. Wall Street, STE 200 in Midland. Oscar Garcia has been brought on in the role of Business Development and Corporate Strategy Lead to head the local team.

    For more information, visit https://investfortuna.com or email deals@investfortuna.com.

    About Fortuna Investments

    Founded in 2015 by Justus Parmar, Fortuna Investments is a private investment firm that develops long-term partnerships with change-making entrepreneurs in emerging industries. Fortuna specializes in venture capital investments and has led and advised on over $1 billion in transactions since its founding.

    Fortuna’s investments are concentrated in several high-growth sectors, including aerospace and defense, rare earth elements, uranium mining and nuclear technology, electronic waste refining, and robotics. The firm routinely invests for the long term and takes an active operating role.

    In 2020, the firm’s leadership group launched the Fortuna Foundation, an independent charitable organization that supports initiatives dedicated to promoting mental health, education, financial literacy and other community organizations in need.

    More information can be found at https://investfortuna.com/. Follow Justus Parmar on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

    Media Contact:

    Will Butler
    fortuna@dlpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortuna Investments Expands to Midland, Texas, Strengthening Its Footprint in America’s Energy and Innovation Corridor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDLAND, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortuna Investments, a leading America-first venture capital firm, is proud to announce the expansion of its operations into Midland, Texas, where it will build upon its strategic focus on rare earth elements, space infrastructure, and uranium and nuclear energy. Known for its bold investments in critical, high-growth sectors, Fortuna continues to deepen its national presence—now with a strategic location in the heart of Texas to complement its existing offices in Los Angeles and Miami.

    Midland, long recognized as a hub of American energy production and resilience, reflects the grit, tenacity, and values that define Fortuna’s mission. “The people of Midland embody the same strength and entrepreneurial spirit that drive our firm, so this is a natural next step for us,” said Justus Parmar, Founder and CEO of Fortuna Investments.

    Texas continues to thrive as a pro-business powerhouse—with a culture of entrepreneurship, no state income tax, and a rapidly growing capital markets ecosystem. The recent announcement of a Texas-based stock exchange adds even more momentum to the state’s financial future, offering local investors and companies new platforms for liquidity and capital formation.

    Midland is central to Fortuna’s strategy of investing in American ingenuity and potential. As the Permian Basin’s energy epicenter, the city hosts a deep concentration of independent energy wealth, legacy capital, and long-term investors. These characteristics align seamlessly with Fortuna’s model of disciplined, asset-backed growth investing.

    Fortuna already holds key strategic assets across Texas, including:

    • The PEAK Project — A developing rare earth elements mine vital to securing domestic supply chains.
    • Space Infrastructure — With emerging assets based in Midland’s aerospace corridor.
    • Uranium and Nuclear Holdings — Supporting U.S. energy security and the growing nuclear renaissance.

    “As global markets shift, and the demand for critical materials and energy grows, our presence in Midland positions us to lead from the front,” said Parmar. “We believe this expansion strengthens our ability to drive value and national significance across the sectors we champion.”

    Fortuna’s Midland office will be located at 223 W. Wall Street, STE 200 in Midland. Oscar Garcia has been brought on in the role of Business Development and Corporate Strategy Lead to head the local team.

    For more information, visit https://investfortuna.com or email deals@investfortuna.com.

    About Fortuna Investments

    Founded in 2015 by Justus Parmar, Fortuna Investments is a private investment firm that develops long-term partnerships with change-making entrepreneurs in emerging industries. Fortuna specializes in venture capital investments and has led and advised on over $1 billion in transactions since its founding.

    Fortuna’s investments are concentrated in several high-growth sectors, including aerospace and defense, rare earth elements, uranium mining and nuclear technology, electronic waste refining, and robotics. The firm routinely invests for the long term and takes an active operating role.

    In 2020, the firm’s leadership group launched the Fortuna Foundation, an independent charitable organization that supports initiatives dedicated to promoting mental health, education, financial literacy and other community organizations in need.

    More information can be found at https://investfortuna.com/. Follow Justus Parmar on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

    Media Contact:

    Will Butler
    fortuna@dlpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Inflation Remains Right on Target Under President Trump

    Source: US Whitehouse

    “Every month since President Trump took office, core inflation — the best measure of inflation — has beat or matched expectations. The data proves that President Trump is stabilizing inflation and the Panicans continue to be wrong about tariffs raising prices.” — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

    Under President Donald J. Trump, America continues to beat back inflation after years of Biden-induced price hikes.

    Here’s what you need to know from the latest Consumer Price Index:

    • June data confirms inflation is right on track. The annualized rate of inflation is below the year-earlier pace, showing that prices are right on track.
    • Core inflation beat expectations for another month. Since President Trump took office, core inflation has tracked at just 2.1% — levels not seen since the first Trump Administration, when prices were low and stable — and has come in below or at economists’ expectations every single month.
    • Wage growth remains strong under President Trump. Real wages for production and nonsupervisory workers are up 1.3% over last year.
    • Prices for everyday Americans continue to fall. Prices for new and used vehicles and airfares fell last month, while annualized shelter inflation dropped to its lowest in nearly four years — with prices for gas, fuel oil, energy commodities, hotels, airfare, public transportation, and fresh vegetables all down over last year.

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    • CNBC’s Rick Santelli: “Inflation is going to ebb and flow. If we want to really isolate it in terms of what this Administration is doing or Liberation Day, I would benchmark it to the beginning of the year. January and February reads being warmer gives you a lot of information that some of the policies have not been detrimental in boosting inflation.”
    • CNBC’s Rick Santelli: “The death of the labor market has been greatly exaggerated based on recent data, and I think that all in all, the inflation numbers — they’re pretty respectable here.”
    • Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo: “You’ve got to look at this report as another victory for President Trump, who has focused on reigning in inflation — and that’s what we’re seeing from this report again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Latta, Kelly’s Bill to Help Famers’ Connectivity in the Field

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

    Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s (IL-2) bipartisan Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act, to help farmers more easily incorporate technology into their operations. The legislation now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.  

    “Reliable broadband is essential for farmers in Ohio and the country. I’m grateful to my House colleagues for passing this bill, which will help farmers deploy fast, dependable internet and technologies that boost productivity, increase yields, and reduce operating costs. Today’s vote brings us one step closer to delivering the advanced connectivity our farmers need in the fields and beyond,” Latta said.   

    “In a state where farmers are the backbone of the food supply chain and in a district with over 4,500 farms, I’m proud to provide our farmers with the best wireless technologies. Many farmers provide nutritious foods to our communities, which is needed now more than ever, and this bill will help maximize their yield and profitability. As the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act passed the House with bipartisan support, I urge my Senate colleagues to do the same,” Kelly said. 

    Congressman Bob Latta spoke on the House floor today in support of the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act, watch here.    

    Background:  

    The Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review its current satellite rules to determine if rule changes can be made to promote precision agriculture. This bill continues to build upon Latta’s Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act, included in the Farm Bill and signed into law in 2018. Last Congress, Congressman Latta served as the Chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Care for Farmers, Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Farmers First Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to address the mental health epidemic in rural America and expand access to critical mental health care for our nation’s agricultural communities. The legislation would increase support for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), which Senators Baldwin and Senator Ernst successfully included in the 2018 Farm Bill.
    “Wisconsin’s farmers and ranchers work hard every day to keep their businesses running and our Made in Wisconsin agricultural economy moving forward. But too often, the stress, isolation, and physical demands of this job leave them with nowhere to turn when it all gets to be too much,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m working to make sure our farmers and rural communities have the resources they need because no one should have to fight these battles alone.”
    “Iowa farmers work tirelessly from sunrise to sundown – rain or shine – to feed and fuel the world. Their work isn’t easy, and mental health issues, including suicide, are too common in our agriculture community, which is why I’m working to ensure farmers have better access to mental health resources,” said Senator Ernst.
    The Farmers First Act would reauthorize the FRSAN, a program that connects farmers, ranchers, and other agriculture workers to stress assistance programs and resources. Through FRSAN, state departments of agriculture, state extension services, and non-profits receive funding to establish helplines, provide suicide prevention training for farm advocates, and create support groups for farmers and farm workers. The Farmers First Act would increase funding for the program, authorizing $15 million per year for the program for the next five years, up from $10 million and allowing grantees to hire additional staff to support farmers, including behavioral health specialists to provide counseling to agricultural workers, and bolstering grantees’ efforts to address the unique needs of different farming populations, including Veteran farmers and farmers of color.
    The Senators are introducing the bill as suicide, mental health challenges, and stress are on the rise in agricultural and rural communities. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association. Four regional centers established through FRSAN are currently increasing access to farm stress services, including expanding access to hotlines, training Americans in rural areas to recognize the signs of depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation, and creating support groups for farmworkers.
    In addition to Senators Baldwin and Ernst, the Farmers First Act of 2025 is co-sponsored in the Senate by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Susan Collins (R-ME). The bill was also introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04) and Angie Craig (D-MN-02).
    The Farmers First Act is endorsed by National Farmers Union, National Rural Health Association, National Milk Producers Federation, Agriculture Retailers Association, The National Council, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, Organic Trade Association, American Psychological Association Services, NCBA CLUSA, Farm Credit Council, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Organic Farmers Association, National Pork Producers Council, American Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy Coalition, Farm Aid, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Organic Coalition, Farmer Veteran Coalition, and American Farm Bureau Federation.
    “From trade uncertainty to labor shortages and natural disasters, many stressors are weighing heavily on the minds of farmers and ranchers. Resources supported through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network are more critical now than at any time in recent memory. Farm Bureau appreciates Representatives Craig and Feenstra, as well as Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their tireless commitment to supporting farmer and rancher mental health across the country,” said Sam Kieffer, Vice President, Public Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation.
    “Farming can be incredibly stressful, and too many rural communities still don’t have the mental health support they need,” said National Farmers Union President Rob Larew. “The Farmers First Act will help get essential resources to farmers who are struggling. We thank Senators Baldwin and Ernst and Representatives Feenstra and Craig for leading the charge and urge Congress to reauthorize FRSAN with increased funding.”
    “FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative is extremely appreciative of the work of Senator Tammy Baldwin, as well as others, in addressing the mounting mental health and wellness challenges facing our nations farmers. There are so many variables out of the control of the farmers that work hard to supply multiple facets to consumers. Volatility of markets, weather, regulations, and numerous other things out of their control and then add the lack of rural resources, makes this very important part of our world feeling vulnerable and alone. The Farmers First Act would make the access to resources easier and more financially viable for our nations farmers,” said the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative.
    “The Farmer Veteran Coalition strongly supports the reauthorization of the Farmers First Act. Expanding and strengthening the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network is essential to ensuring farmers, ranchers have access to the mental health resources they need to thrive. We commend Representatives Feenstra and Craig, as well as Senators Baldwin and Ernst, for their bipartisan leadership in prioritizing the well-being of those who feed our nation. This bill will provide critical support for agricultural producers facing stress, isolation, and mental health challenges, and we urge swift passage this Congress,” said Jeanette Lombardo, CEO, Farmer Veteran Coalition.
    “Farmers are daily facing the changing and unpredictable weather patterns that can devastate the best laid plans. They must deal with rising cost of inputs, uncertainty about trade, uncertainty about support services, uncertainty about the role of the USDA and managing difficult financial decisions against a backdrop of uncertainty around the domestic economy. Organic dairy farmers care for the environment, care for their livestock and for the health and welfare of their family and their customers every day. Dairy farming is many times a solitary occupation and farmers need access to all the resources possible to deal with the stress and uncertainty in their lives. We wholeheartedly support the Farmers First Act and all the assistance it can provide to care for our farm families,” said Ed Maltby, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.
    “Farming and the financial insecurity associated with farming can be very stressful. Farmers dealing with stress-related mental health challenges often feel stigmatized if they seek help, which only compounds the problem. We applaud Representatives Feenstra (R-IA) and Craig (D-MN) and Senators Baldwin (D-WI) and Ernst (R-IA) for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the Farmers First Act to increase resources available to farmers and rural communities to address mental health challenges,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition.
    “Ensuring sufficient access to evidence-based mental health services continues to be a challenge in many rural and agricultural communities, in many cases a challenge that has endured over generations,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association Services, Inc. (APA Services). “The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network program continues to be a lifeline to many of these communities. APA Services applauds Representatives Feenstra and Craig and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their efforts to ensure adequate mental health resources in rural communities, and we ask Congress to swiftly enact the Farmers First Act.”
    “Farmers and ranchers across the United States face unique and extreme stresses in their work to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. NASDA applauds the bipartisan Farmers First Act, which bolsters access to critical mental health resources through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. State departments of agriculture play an important role in coordinating FRSAN operations and NASDA looks forward to continuing to support these invaluable activities,” said NASDA CEO, Ted McKinney.
    “Farming is a stressful job, even in good times, and rural residents often face unique barriers to seeking mental health care,” said Christy Seyfert, Farm Credit Council president and CEO. “FRSAN brings valuable stress assistance services and expertise to the farm and ranch communities most in need of resources. Farm Credit commends Ranking Member Craig, Representative Feenstra, and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their leadership on the Farmers First Act.”
    “Farmers face incredible stressors in their day-to-day work and often feel as though the weight of the world rests on their shoulders as they navigate tough times while maintaining farms that have been passed down through multiple generations of family members,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr, National Corn Growers Association President. “Yet, they often find it hard to access the mental health tools they need to cope with these challenges. That’s why we are deeply appreciating for the sponsors of this legislation for working to extend mental health resources to growers through this important legislation.”
    “The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network helps provide essential support to our nation’s producers,” said Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association. “The National Cooperative Business Association applauds the bipartisan leadership to increase access to mental health services for rural communities while providing a critical lifeline to our farmers and ranchers.”
    A one-pager on this legislation can be found here. Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –