Where Food Comes From Inc

Previous wording

The economy is facing inflationary pressures which has resulted in a few challenges for our business, most notably in the form of a tight labor market where job candidates have considerable bargaining power which has driven wages up. Additionally, we are experiencing higher labor and benefit related costs to retain our existing personnel. We believe we will continue to see significant pressure in our labor and benefit related costs which impacts both our gross margins and net income.

Current wording

For approximately 4 years, the economy is facing inflationary pressures which has resulted in a few challenges for our business, most notably in the form of a tight labor market where job candidates have considerable bargaining power which has driven wages up. Additionally, we are experiencing higher labor and benefit related costs to retain our existing personnel. We believe we will continue to see significant pressure in our labor and benefit related costs which impacts both our gross margins and net income.

Previous wording

We also continue to monitor for weakened demand in our professional services business segment due to significant customer concentration. Increased inflation could place pressure on our customers’ timing of approval for consulting projects to move forward. Currently, it is difficult to estimate the financial impact to this revenue stream, if any. We actively market our sustainability solutions and services to new types of customers. We believe the growing awareness of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters creates a key opportunity for us because we have the expertise and technology needed to help companies achieve ESG objectives within the food supply chain.

Current wording

We also continue to monitor for weakened demand in our professional services business segment due to significant customer concentration. Increased inflation could continue to put pressure on our customers’ timing of approval for consulting projects to move forward. Currently, it is difficult to estimate the financial impact to this revenue stream, if any. We actively market our sustainability solutions and services to new types of customers. We believe the growing awareness of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters creates a key opportunity for us because we have the expertise and technology needed to help companies achieve ESG objectives within the food supply chain by specifically focusing on climate, land stewardship and sustainability metrics.

Previous wording

Over the past several years, changing weather patterns and climatic conditions have added to the unpredictability and frequency of natural disasters, such as drought, hailstorms, wildfires and wind, snow and ice storms. Any such extreme weather conditioncan negatively impact a significant portion of our customers who produce food (including all major species of animal-based protein or edible plant variety) in various regions. For example, the drought conditions that impacted nearly one-half of the United States in the first half of 2022 predominately affected our ranch customers resulting in fewer cattle subject to verification. While this example doesn’t directly affect our audit related revenue, it does impact our product sales and other related supply chain fees due to smaller herd sizes. We cannot anticipate changes in weather patterns/conditions, and we cannot predict their impact on our customer’s operations if they were to occur.

Current wording

Over the past several years, changing weather patterns and climatic conditions have added to the unpredictability and frequency of natural disasters, such as drought, hailstorms, wildfires and wind, snow and ice storms. Any such extreme weather conditioncan negatively impact a significant portion of our customers who produce food (including all major species of animal-based protein or edible plant variety) in various regions. For example, the drought conditions that impacted nearly one-half of the United States in the first half of 2022 predominately affected our ranch customers resulting in fewer cattle subject to verification. In the nation’s top 10 beef-producing states — responsible for nearly 60% of the country’s beef production — half of the states reported the lowest number of cattle since 1995 as of the beginning of 2024, according to an Investigate Midwest analysis of the USDA’s data. While this example doesn’t directly affect our audit-related revenue, it does impact our product sales and other related supply chain fees due to smaller herd sizes. We cannot anticipate changes in weather patterns/conditions, and we cannot predict their impact on our customer’s operations if they were to occur.

Previous wording

Additionally, the cattle industry is cyclical by nature based on factors impacting current and future supplies such as drought-induced feedlot placements, higher cow and heifer slaughter, and lower auction receipts. The production lags inherent to this industry lead to long-lasting impacts of production decisions. For example, increased liquidation implies tighter supplies for next year. Similarly, times of herd expansion are typically a multi-year period. These cycles typically last roughly 10 years. The beginning of 2023 marks the ninth year of the current cycle that began in 2014. We are currently in the contraction phase of the cycle after peaking in 2018-2019. How long we continue to contract will be directly impacted by drought and pasture conditions.

Current wording

Additionally, the cattle industry is cyclical by nature based on factors impacting current and future supplies such as drought-induced feedlot placements, higher cow and heifer slaughter, and lower auction receipts. The production lags inherent to this industry lead to long-lasting impacts of production decisions. For example, increased liquidation implies tighter supplies for next year. Similarly, times of herd expansion are typically a multi-year period. Historically, these cycles typically lasted approximately 10 years. The beginning of 2024 marks the tenth year of the current cycle that began in 2014. We are currently in the contraction phase of the cycle after peaking in 2018-2019. How long we will continue to contract will be directly impacted by drought and pasture conditions.

Previous wording

The success of our business model depends on the broad acceptance of our technologies into markets that are continuing to develop as a result of the increasing focus on food safety and assurance.

Current wording

The success of our business model depends on the broad acceptance of our technologies into markets that are continuing to develop as a result of the increasing focus on sustainably produced foods, food safety and assurance.

Previous wording

We are currently benefiting from a slow but growing movement among the agriculture, livestock and food industries to source and/or age verify products, and bundle with other marketing claims such as non-genetically modified foods and beverages. This emerging trend is fueled in part by consumers’ focus on food safety and assurance. However, we can offer no assurances that there will be market acceptance of our technologies. Furthermore, some of our primary target segments within the agriculture, livestock and food industries are experiencing unpredictable economic conditions and are expected to continue to struggle with supply, trade and profitability issues in the near term. Although we believe that our products, if adopted on a wide-scale basis, would have a significant impact on improving the safety, quality and confidence in the world’s food supply, our customers for these products historically have been very slow to change and reluctant to adopt new technologies and business practices.

Current wording

We are currently benefiting from a slow but growing movement among the agriculture, livestock and food industries to source and/or age verify products, and bundle with other marketing claims such as upcycling food ingredients to avoid food waste. This emerging trend is fueled in part by consumers’ focus on food safety and assurance. However, we can offer no assurances that there will be market acceptance of our technologies. Furthermore, some of our primary target segments within the agriculture, livestock and food industries are experiencing unpredictable economic conditions and are expected to continue to struggle with supply, trade and profitability issues in the near term. Although we believe that our products, if adopted on a wide-scale basis, would have a significant impact on diverting food waste, and improving the safety, quality and confidence in the world’s food supply, our customers for these products historically have been very slow to change and reluctant to adopt new technologies and business practices.

Previous wording

Regulations and standards are continually evolving and present a challenging risk. For example, in January 2013, the Japanese government announced a change to its import requirements on U.S. beef. Because the change enabled a significant increase in the amount of product qualifying for export to Japan, it negatively impacted the premiums typically seen in the marketplace for source and age verified cattle. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic which negatively impacted certain aspects of our business due togovernment-mandated closures and social distancing measures. Due to our commitment to innovation, diversification of our product offerings, and our strategy of managing profitability, we believe we can quickly minimize the impact of any adverse changes in regulations or verification standards. While we attempt to mitigate these risks, we can give no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming the potential negative impact to the results of our operations.

Current wording

Regulations and standards are continually evolving and present a challenging risk. For example:

Previous wording

Today, infectious disease and viral outbreaks appear to be emerging more quickly than ever. For example, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (“PEDv”) negatively impacted the pork/sow industry in 2014 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, more commonly known as Bird Flu, impacted poultry operations in 2016 and continues to impact poultry operations today in 2022/2023. In March 2020, the Global Health Organization declared the outbreak of the Corona Virus as a pandemic in human populations. Contagious diseases or viral outbreaks create increased bio-exclusion and social distancing considerations in our business.

Current wording

Today, infectious disease and viral outbreaks appear to be emerging more quickly than ever, in both human and animals. For example, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (“PEDv”) negatively impacted the pork/sow industry in 2014 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, more commonly known as Bird Flu, impacted poultry operations in 2016 and continues to impact poultry operations today. In 2024, other species such as dairy cattle were infected with an adaptation of the Bird Flu virus. In March 2020, the Global Health Organization declared the outbreak of the Corona Virus as a pandemic in human populations. Contagious diseases or viral outbreaks create increased bio-exclusion and social distancing considerations in our business.

Previous wording

We have created innovative solutions that mitigate the risk of transferring disease but due to uncertainty in the severity and duration of various diseases and viral outbreaks, we can give no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming the impact to our business operations, employees, customers, and suppliers which could negatively impact our business revenues, profitability and financial condition.

Current wording

We have created innovative solutions that mitigate the risk of transferring disease but due to uncertainty in the severity and duration of various diseases and viral outbreaks, we can give no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming the impact on our business operations, employees, customers, and suppliers which could negatively impact our business revenues, profitability and financial condition.

Previous wording

As of February 9, 2024, John Saunders, our Chairman and CEO, and Leann Saunders, our President, beneficially owned in the aggregate approximately 31.7% of our common stock. The Saunders, together with the rest of our Board, beneficially own approximately 60.4% of our common stock. These directors and officers, if they determine to vote in the same manner, would have a significant impact on the outcome of any matter requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions or terms of any liquidation. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that may be favored by other shareholders. This could prevent transactions in which shareholders might otherwise recover a premium for their shares over current market prices.

Current wording

As of February 13, 2025, John Saunders, our Chairman and CEO, and Leann Saunders, our President, beneficially owned in the aggregate approximately 33.2% of our common stock. The Saunders, together with the rest of our Board, beneficially own approximately 51.6% of our common stock. These directors and officers, if they determine to vote in the same manner, would have a significant impact on the outcome of any matter requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions or terms of any liquidation. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that may be favored by other shareholders. This could prevent transactions in which shareholders might otherwise recover a premium for their shares over current market prices.