We here at the American Cattlemen have posted this article to inform you of "Great Debate" This story is brought to you by Alltech. Lexington, KENTUCKY] – Alltech has announced it will hold a 2nd annual industry ‘Great Debate’, as part of its 25th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium, taking place in Lexington, Kentucky, May 17-20, 2009. This year’s debate will consider sustainability and the ACE principle – the need to achieve long-term profitability while continuing to be conscious of animal welfare, responsive to consumer needs and environmentally friendly - from three different points of view.
Dr. Lutz Goedde from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Philip Wilkinson OBE, Managing Director, 2 Sisters Group (the UK’s largest chicken producer) and Professor Michael Boehlje of Purdue University will each take the stage to discuss their ideas in front of over 1000 delegates representing top global agribusinesses.
“It is an honor for us to host these respected figures at our 25th Symposium,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder, Alltech. “Sustainability for Alltech is about long term business. That means finding ways to produce meat, milk and eggs in a manner which is not only economically viable, but also recognizes the relationship that production has with the environment, consumer needs and with the importance of traceability.”
“Within this context, Alltech’s ‘Great Debate’ takes on a great importance,” Dr. Lyons continued. “It is clear that sustainability must be viewed through the prism of the economic crisis. Our industry has no other choice than to become more cost efficient.”
‘The Sustainability Principle – securing long term profitability in a period of crisis’ is the theme for Alltech’s 25th Annual Symposium. The meeting is regarded as a premier industry conference, known for the caliber of speakers and research presented. The Symposium will comprise both industry and species-specific presentations as well as interactive sessions where professionals from around the world can exchange ideas and strategies.
About the speakers:
Dr. Lutz Goedde – Deputy Director, Agriculture Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Dr. Lutz Goedde is deputy director in the Agricultural Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He previously worked as a senior executive in the agricultural inputs sector. As CEO and President, he led the turnaround of Alta Genetics, the world's largest privately owned cattle genetics improvement and artificial insemination company. Prior to his leadership of Alta Genetics, he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, the world's foremost strategy consulting firm, in their Toronto and Chicago offices. He focused his consulting work on agriculture, food and healthcare, becoming co-lead of the firm's Agriculture & Food Chains industry practice. In his earlier career he worked as a marketing manager for Bayer's crop protection business in Central America. Dr. Goedde is fluent in English, German and Spanish and has extensive work experience in North America, Latin America, Europe, Southern Africa and Southeast Asia. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn, Germany, and an MBA with honors from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Philip Wilkinson Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Managing Director, 2 Sisters Group
Philip Wilkinson is managing director of the 2 Sisters Food Group, the UK’s largest producer of chicken. Starting out as a management trainee at the Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales, he progressed through a range of different roles within the industry, culminating in that of Managing Director of Arla Foods Plc, one of the leading producers of milk products in Denmark and the UK. In parallel with this career, he has spoken at the Harvard Agribusiness Seminar. He has also served on the board of many of the leading UK Governmental bodies looking at food policy and sustainability. Mr. Wilkinson received an OBE awarded by Her Majesty the Queen of England in recognition of his contribution to the food industry.
Professor Michael Boehlje - Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Center for Food and Agricultural Business (CAB), Purdue University.
Professor Michael Boehlje has devoted his career to helping farm and agribusiness managers as well as policy makers understand the pragmatic economic and financial consequences of their decisions. The fundamental focus of his work has been to integrate concepts of economics, finance, and strategy to solve problems of farm and agribusiness managers. A major theme of Professor Boehlje’s research, writing and lecturing for the past 10 years has been the importance of strategic planning and thinking, and positioning the firm for long-term viability and success. His work has attempted to extend and apply modern management concepts of systems analysis, process control, transactions cost, strategic positioning, real options and supply/value chain management to the food production, processing and distribution system. Dr. Boehlje is the author or co-author of four books, and over 450 articles and other publications. He is also Senior Associate of Centrec Consulting. He is a Fellow of the American Agricultural Economics Association and of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. Professor Boehlje is known for his passionate defense of commercial and industrial agriculture and his understanding of many of the issues we face today. As Professor at Purdue University, he has been involved with many of the agribusiness programs which are held there.
Read more at: www.alltech.com/symposium
Published : 05/01/2009 - 2:49pm
