Odd Lots What It's Like to Do Big Ag Business in Venezuela and Ukraine
36 snips
Jan 29, 2026 
Jeff Kazin, cofounder of AgrisAcademy and former Cargill executive who ran Venezuelan operations, shares firsthand stories from tough markets. He and colleagues discuss dollar shortages, hyperinflation, logistics theft, security costs, and how multinationals keep brands and operations running. Short vignettes cover crypto workarounds, rebuilding needs, and practical advice for operating where institutions are weak.
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Currency Collapse Is The Core Operational Risk
- Hyperinflation and a nonfunctional currency became the single biggest operational constraint in Venezuela.
- When governments force local-currency sales, multinationals depend on state-controlled foreign-exchange access to buy dollarized inputs.
Brand And Standards Are Operational Currency
- Corporate brand and adherence to standards create trust that lets firms operate where corruption is common.
- Food safety and contract reliability give multinationals a reputational edge in difficult markets.
Teams Became Dollar Hunters
- Jeff explains how teams switched from operations to 'dollar generation' to secure spare parts and inputs.
- He shares examples like exporting salt or pallets to obtain foreign currency for essential imports.