Ag Showcase 2018 Sessions
Day 1 (Monday, sept. 10th)
Agri-tech in the UK: A Global Partner for Innovation
Please join us for a special session to highlight the UK’s agri-tech research and innovation system, hosted by the UK Science & Innovation Network. Attendees will learn about opportunities for collaborative R&D, trade and investment with the UK, a global partner of choice for agri-tech innovation. The speaking lineup will feature a selection of the UK’s leading agri-food researchers and exciting new startups poised to disrupt farming and food production. Whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor, a researcher, or just want to learn more about the UK’s vision for the future of agriculture, this session is not to be missed.
For more information, please contact Kyle Dolan, UK Science & Innovation Network: Kyle.Dolan@fco.gov.uk
UK Science & Innovation Network on Twitter: @UKSINet
Follow our Ag Innovation Showcase hashtag #UKAgInno2018
Opening Keynote
1:40 - 2:10PM
Vice Chairman & Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research & Development
PepsiCo
From Table to Farm: The Modern Consumer's Reverse-Commute Across the Value Chain
In recent years, consumers of foods and beverages have installed themselves firmly in the driver’s seat
For decades, they were satisfied with tasty, affordable foods and beverages. Today, they demand more. Much more. They expect better nutrition, information about ingredients, visibility into supply chains, and guarantees that the foods and beverages they ingest are sourced humanely and sustainably.
Against the backdrop, PepsiCo—which spends $2.2 billion annually on agriculture—strives to satisfy modern consumers’ needs, anticipate their future sustainability, nutrition and innovation expectations, and incent its business partners across the value chain to adapt to a food and beverage landscape that is now in a permanent state of disruption.
In discussing these issues and Pepsico’s commitment to agriculture, Dr. Khan will also identify the challenges ahead and the call for joint action in the community of farmers, innovators, investors and industry.
The Impact of Innovation on Missouri's Number One Industry: Agriculture
Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn is a fifth generation farmer that raises corn, cattle, pigs and soybeans with her husband in Clarence, Missouri. In her role as Director of Agriculture, she is focused on rethinking state government to better serve Missouri farmers, ranchers and every day citizens. In one way or another, agricultural innovation fits into each of the key pillars the Department has outlined: to feed, reach, connect and empower more Missourians. Today’s farms are using the most advanced technology available, making agriculture a front runner in innovation. As a farmer, she feels the positive impact of agriculture innovation on her farm each and every day. Through technology, Missouri agriculture has made food safer, more affordable and plentiful.
Genome Modification and Discovery
with Plastomics, Pathway Biologic, and Pivot Bio.
In this company presentation block, we showcase both the tools of biology for gene modification and the mining of naturally-occurring microbes. In keeping with the 2018 Showcase theme of plant nutrition and nutritive capacity, these three companies have different approaches to improving plant performance and nutrition. They address the genome of crop plants and the microbial science associated with the physiology of plants.
showcase company presentations
3:50 - 5:00PM
Plant nutrition: Protection & Nutrients
with Livestock Water Recycling, Phospholutions, Teralytic, Aker Technologies, and TERI
It is well-understood that managing inputs with great (and greater) precision will yield more effective financial and environmental outcomes. Indeed, there is growing sophistication across the product spectrum of products and solutions to protect crops and plants from pests, and to enhance plant nutrition, soil health and the extraction and use of nutrients from waste product streams. This group of companies offers a look into this spectrum of increasingly varies solutions to fundamental problems in agriculture and beyond.
Day 2 (Tuesday, Sept 11th)
Keynote Conversation
9:15 - 10:00AM
VP of Digital Farming
VP of Business Development
Moderator:
Director General
International Fertilizer Association
How to Most Effectively Implement the 4 Rs of Precise Plant Nutrition
We will hear from two leading global plant nutrition companies, Nutrien and Yara. Both companies are actively involved in working across the AgTech space inorder to offer more sophisticated plant nutrition solutions to growers to help them maximize yields and reduce nutrient losses to the environment. They will be exploring the future of plant nutrition and highlight their own companies' innovation and technology strategies.
Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, playing a critical role in helping growers increase food production in a sustainable manner. Nutrien produces and distributes over 26 million tonnes of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products world-wide, complemented by the largest global ag input retail network of over 1,500 company-owned retail branches.
Yara’s comprehensive crop nutrition solutions and precision farming offerings allow farmers to increase yields and improve product quality while reducing environmental impact. Founded in 1905 to solve emerging famine in Europe, Yara has a worldwide presence with more than 16,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries. In 2017, Yara reported revenues of USD 11.4 billion.
Transparency. Traceability. Transformation.
Today’s consumers are asking for more information about where their food is grown, how it’s produced and how big companies are transforming the system for a more transparent value chain. From grain elevators in Indiana to cocoa co-ops in the Ivory Coast, Cargill sits in the middle of many of the largest commodity supply chains in the world. Moving food from where it’s grown, to where it’s needed. Commodity supply chains have unique challenges that must be overcome to provide greater traceability, while balancing the need for cost efficient food solutions to feed a growing population. Cargill is committed to overcoming those obstacles while considering the environmental, social and economic dimensions from the farm to the consumer.
Toward a More Sustainable Agriculture: Delivering Solutions for Farmers
During his spotlight session, Neal Gutterson from the recently-formed Corteva explores the meaning of the name (derived from “heart” and “nature”) to assert a commitment to the health and vitality of the soil and the land. He will also discuss the company’s unique portfolio of crop protection, seed and trait and digital/software offerings. This combination provides a more complete set of solutions to enable farmers to be more productive and profitable while maintaining a focus on a healthier food supply, produced more sustainably.
INTRODUCTIONS AND OVERVIEWS OF OUR SPECIAL CONTENT SESSIONS
International Fertilizer Association & National Corn Growers Association
Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Commercio
Note: full presentations will occur from 4:30 - 6:00PM.
SHORT Preview of Special Content Sessions
11:45 - 11:50AM
International Fertilizer Association & National Corn Growers Association
Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Commercio
AROUND THE WORLD: BIG & NEW GROWTH MARKETS
Spotlights on India, China, and Africa
Join industry leaders from major multinational plant nutrient companies in three of the most important global agricultural markets—China, India, and Africa— as they highlight their perspectives on new opportunities for sustainable agricultural productivity growth.
· Kingenta of China is the largest specialty plant nutrient producer in China and one of the world's largest slow/controlled-release fertilizer producers.
· IFFCO of India is the world’s largest fertilizer cooperative and one of the largest Indian plant nutrient producers.
· OCP Group, the world’s largest exporter of phosphates and among the top global fertilizer producers, is developing the largest plant nutrient distribution network in Africa.
AROUND THE WORLD: BIG NEW MARKETS
11:50PM - 12:30PM
with Rakesh Kapur, Joint Managing Director, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO), India;
Zhai Jidong Executive VP, Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group Co. Ltd., China;
and Marouane Ameziane, Executive Vice President Strategy & Corporate Development, OCP Group, Morocco
company showcase block 3
1:30 - 2:30PM
CONSUMER DRIVERS: Food Products, Logistics, and Distribution
with:
There is a growing consensus that better food, not more of it, is key to the challenges facing our food supply. New sources of protein, including plant-based food, coupled with new and even revolutionary ways to track, trace and distribute food are a response to consumer demand for a greater focus on nutrition, and greater visibility into where food comes from and how it is produced and sold. This group of companies typifies the opportunities and the innovations in this sector.
A Tribute "In Memoriam" to John Sorenson, former CEO, Vestaron
Thoughts on a Pivot with Anna Rath, CEO, Vestaron and Andy Renz, VP Business Development
Featuring a tribute to John Sorenson, late former CEO of Vestaron
This spotlight features an accomplished alumnus, Vestaron.
Andy and Anna will look back, to remember the late John Sorenson, who passed away in February 2018. He was an exemplary leader in agriculture, a presenter, panelist and spotlight speaker at the Ag Innovation Showcase (the latter in 2017).
They will look forward, to trace the journey of Vestaron, a leader in peptide-based biopesticides, a company retooling crop protection from synthetics toward sustainably-produced peptides for efficient pest control.
Managing the Transition from R&D to Commercialization
Successful transitions from R&D to commercialization require a dual focus on product development and financing.
The two are inextricably linked: While fueling the product pipeline with a breakthrough suite of products that solve real-world problems for agriculture, companies must maintain a robust outreach program to the investor community, which supplies the financial resources to fund and commercialize that product pipeline. Mr. Marvin will offer personal tips from his more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and CEO who has successfully raised more than $350 million for technology companies. Mr. Chambers will discuss how ATP became one of the largest plant nutrient suppliers in Canada.
Alumni Panel
3:00 - 4:00PM
Donald Marvin, CEO, Concentric
Gregg Steinberg, CEO, Growcentia
Tom Laurita, CEO, NewLeaf Symbiotics
Sudhir Rani, CFO, TerViva
in conversation with Josh Hofheimer of Sidley Austin LLP.
Tales from the Trenches: Looking Back to Look Forward
Showcase Alumni discuss the last 10 years, and what the next 10 might bring.
Six alumni from previous Ag Showcase editions reflect on what the long and winding road to commercialization meant to them, how they coped, struggled and survived, what the pitfalls and joys have brought to their journey, and what their innovative solutions mean for the push from "Farm to Table."
Innovations in Soil Health, and Soil and
Plant Diagnostics and Metrics for Optimum Nutrient Management
The two organizations behind this session – the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are advocates of sustainable agricultural systems and nutrient use efficiency, embodied by the “4 R,” which emphasize the need to use the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place in order to maximize plant uptake of nutrients and minimize nutrient losses to the environment. Soil and plant health diagnostics and fertilizer recommendations based on these diagnostics are vital tools in the 4R toolkit, and this session will explore the latest innovations in this critical area of food production.
Special content Session
4:30 - 6:00PM
with Patrick Heffer, Senior Ag Director, International Fertilizer Association
Sally Flis, Director of Agronomy, The Fertilizer Institute
Greg Ruehle, President & CEO, Servi-Tech, Inc.
Nathan Fields, Director Biotechnology and Crop Inputs, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
Scott McKee, President, Waypoint Analytical, Developments in (wet chemistry) soil testing
Frank D’Emden, Technical Product Manager, CSBP/Decipher
Meagan Hynes, Teralytic (NPK Sensor)
Jin Jian, Purdue University (Leafspec)
Brad Van De Woestyne, Manager, Agronomic Innovation, John Deere
Terry L. Roberts, PhD, President
International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)
University and Research Institution Showcase
Featuring:
Presenter: Jay Ham, Professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER
Presenters: Kira Veley, Research Scientist, and Alex Harkess, Postdoctoral Fellow
Presenter: Randall Tosh, CEO, Phoreus Biotech
Presenter: Dirk Benedict, Marketing Coordinator, LSU AgCenter
Presenter: Kyung-Hwan Han, Professor
MOHAMMED VI POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
Presenter: Hicham El Habti, Secretary General
Presenter: Jian Jin, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Special Content Session
4:30 - 6:00PM
University Showcase
Argentina, ideas that feed the world
Come and see Argentina’s potential in AgTech. The world’s barn is developing an ecosystem, working closely through public-private projects that helps create solutions for the ag industry. With a human resources talent history of launching almost half of the LATAM unicorns, new laws to foster entrepreneurs based in Israel with success, and early adopter farmers across the nation, Argentina is working hard on accelerating the AgTech ecosystem. The speaker lineup will feature a variety of startups, accelerators, big agro traditional companies and government representatives to explain why Argentina is becoming the LATAM leader in AgTech. If you seek to understand what’s happening in the south, do not hesitate in joining our discussion.
Day 3 (Wednesday, Sept. 12th)
talk show: Precise Plant Nutrient Solutions
Environmental concerns, an evolving farm solutions value chain, and consumer demands are creating a new landscape for plant nutrients. “Smart fertilizers, ” biologicals, biostimulants, mineral and bio hybrids and other plant nutrient related products are growing in use with traditional fertilizers. This panel will discuss the future of plant nutrients as all stakeholders seek new heights of efficiency and profitability.
· What new plant nutrient products are on the horizon to produce nutrient rich food efficiently, sustainably, and profitably?
· How will they integrate into evolving farm nutrient management systems to achieve the 4R principles?
· What new technologies and innovations are emerging. to create the next generation products.
Now to the Table, from Bytes to Bites: A riff on farm and food
With this talk show, we ask:
Can we have cheap food and cheap nutrition? (A world beyond traditional carbs).
Will new tools to increase system accountability yield greater transparency?
Is the feed lot of the 21st century within plants, labs or in animals? How is the mix evolving?
The Consumer and the Future of Row Crop Profitability
Andrey Zarur, Greenlight Biosciences
Shoba Murali, Generation UCAN
Tony Michaels, Midwestern BioAg
Karn Manhas, Terramera
Transparency and Traceability
Anthony Zografos, SafeTraces
Will Babler, Mercaris
Angie Slaughter, AB InBev
Brennan Turner, FarmLead
The Future of Protein
Reese Schroeder, Tyson Ventures
Alan Hahn, MycoTechnology
Neil Renninger, Ripple Foods
Bernard Van Lengerich, (ret.) Chief Science Officer, General Mills & Advisory Board Member, S2G Ventures
Talk Show
9:45 - 12:15PM
Hosted by:
Sanjeev Krishnan, Managing Director, S2G Ventures
Matt Crisp, CEO, Benson Hill
From “Needy” to “Greedy”, Now Feeding the “Needy”
Listen to a perspective of an animal farmer with government, public policy, and charitable global supply chain experience.
with Rebecca Doyle, Farmer; Co-Owner, Hickory Grove Pork Farm & Doyle Associates; Former Food Division Director, World Food Program.
View From the Farm
12:15 - 12:30PM
Farmer & Co-Owner, Hickory Grove Pork Farm & Doyle Associates
Former Director of World Food Program
