ZimmCast 719 – Preview of 2023 NAMA Fall Conference
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.
It is time to get a preview of what to expect at this year’s NAMA Fall Conference. I spoke with Trista Thompson, Wyffels, Chair for the conference and Laura Rustmann, J.L. Farmakis, Vice Chair. In our discussion we talk about the ag tour the day before the official start of the conference; keynote speakers; breakout sessions, professional development awards and lots of opportunity for networking. You can still register and we hope to see you there.
Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 719 - Preview of the 2023 NAMA Fall Conference (17:14)
That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.
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USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission Delegation Visits Chile

U.S. Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan (left) and USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor
“As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of U.S.-Chile relations, I am honored to lead such an incredible group as we work with Chilean importers on expanding our bilateral trade even further,” said Taylor. “Customers in Chile are especially interested in U.S. consumer-oriented products, such as dairy, beef, poultry, pork, condiments and distilled spirits, providing U.S. exporters with many new and exciting opportunities.”
While in Santiago, the members of the delegation are looking to establish business relationships and explore opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports to the region. Buyers from Chile, as well as from neighboring Ecuador and Peru, have been invited to participate and meet with U.S. exporters. In addition, this trade mission will allow participants to learn about production and marketing practices throughout South America.
Taylor held a media call from Santiago, Chile Thursday to talk about the trip.
USDA Trade Mission to Chile - Under Secretary Alexis Taylor 25:38ADM and Syngenta Group Partner for New Biofuels Feedstocks
ADM and Syngenta Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of low carbon, next-generation oilseeds and improved varieties to help meet growing demand for biofuels fueled by sustainable aviation fuel.
ADM and Syngenta hope to leverage their existing capabilities to accelerate the research, processing, and commercialization of oilseeds such as Camelina that are typically grown in the fallow period of a crop rotation. Such feedstocks could help meet global demand for biofuels which is expected to grow by 35 billion liters per year, or 22%, over the 2022-2027 period, according to the International Energy Association.
“Farmers have always been stewards of the land,” said Alison Taylor, ADM’s chief sustainability officer. “We’re already expanding our partnerships with farmers through our re:generations™ regen ag program; this MOU represents another pathway for us to help them drive value by positioning their businesses to meet global demand for sustainably-sourced products.”
“Transforming agriculture will be fueled by innovation, but it must be achieved at scale,” said Daniel Vennard, Syngenta Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “This cannot be done alone. The whole food and agriculture system needs to work in partnership with farmers at the center. Our collaboration with ADM is a perfect example of our continued commitment and we are excited to see what we will do together and how we can inspire the industry.”
The companies expect to sign definitive agreements by the end of the year and are already advancing important work together around growing and processing next-generation varieties.
Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton, Syngenta, Receives Golden Goose Award
One of the awardees of the Golden Goose Award this year is Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton. I had the opportunity to interview her during a Syngenta Media Event in 2006. You can find that interview here.
Here is an overview of the work Dr. Chilton is well-known for.
Using millions of years-old bacteria to genetically modify plants resistant to pests. Awardee: Mary-Dell Chilton – Syngenta .
In the 1970s, scientists were trying to uncover whether bacteria’s ability to repair their own DNA could also hijack plant growth — a survival strategy which, while savvy, threatened agricultural crops. Determined to find the answer, Mary-Dell Chilton analyzed data at her kitchen table after her kids had gone to bed. To her surprise, she discovered that bacteria could transfer their DNA into plants. The technique she eventually developed based on the bacteria’s natural abilities, known as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (AMT), is now widely adopted by U.S. corn, soybean and cotton farmers.
The Golden Goose Award, which celebrates federally funded research that sounds silly, but ultimately benefits society, has selected five researchers across the fields of biology, agriculture and genomics for their unexpected breakthroughs as 2023 awardees. On September 27, 2023, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society, co-hosted the 12th annual Golden Goose Award ceremony with the Association of American Universities, a founding member of the Golden Goose Award, at the Library of Congress to celebrate the awardees’ achievements. You can find the video of the presentation on YouTube.
You can see the full news release here. (pdf)
Precision Ag News 9/27
House Ag Committee Members Discuss Farm Bill
Two members of Congress from Kansas were at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City on Monday, hosted by AgBizKC and Agri-Pulse Communications. U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Tracey Mann (R-KS), both members of the House Agriculture Committee, discussed the potential for getting a farm bill across the finish line without an extension.
“You’ve got to remember that the farm bill today is 81 percent food and nutrition, 19 percent everything else,” said Mann, who is fifth-generation Kansan, born and raised on the family farm. “In the everything else bucket are things like crop insurance, market access programs, conservation programs, all of the things that effect production agriculture.”
Davids, who has served in Congress since 2019, admittedly knows little about agriculture but says she has embarked on a listening tour around the state to learn more. “I went to a livestock auction. I didn’t buy anything, luckily they wouldn’t let me,” said Davids. “I went to a co-op, a vegetable farm, a goat farm. I’m learning the difference between all the different types of cows.”
Listen to their opening statements here:
Ag Outlook Forum - Reps. Mann and Davids 20:13
Save the Date for VISION Conference 2024
The seventh annual VISION Conference is returning to Glendale, Arizona, January 22-24, 2024.
The VISION Conference has firmly established itself as the premier gathering for forward-thinking executives in the ag tech community. This event serves as a critical platform where industry leaders come together to chart the strategic roadmap for the adoption of the latest innovative technologies and systems. Our primary focus is on the key drivers that will transform the agribusiness industry within the next 3 to 5 years.
New in 2024, the second in-person meeting of Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) will be co-located with the VISION Conference, starting with a networking reception on January 21.
Agri-Pulse to Host Webinar on Infrastructure and U.S. Soy
With low water levels in the Mississippi River and thousands of roads and bridges in need of improvement, what’s the future look like for moving this year’s soybean crop to domestic and international buyers?
Find out during a free one-hour webinar, “Our Soy Checkoff: Improving U.S. Infrastructure to Meet Demands for U.S. Soy,” on Sept. 28. American Soybean Association Chief Economist Scott Gerlt, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition Mike Steenhoek and Agri-Pulse will share news on current conditions as well as some promising infrastructure improvements.
“As harvest gets underway, this is an opportunity to gain insights into the impact of this year’s drought on crops and key waterways, as well as the potential implications for market prices,” says Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant.
The webinar at 1 p.m. ET is sponsored by the American Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board. You can sign up by clicking on this link.