Alltech Symposium Continues

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech SymposiumThere is some serious business being conducted here at the Alltech International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium. We’re also learning a lot. But it’s not all work. Alltech knows how to throw a party and did so once again at the site of the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. We bused out to the Kentucky Horse Park and enjoyed some Kentucky Ale, find food, good music and great fellowship. I’ve been attending these events courtesy of Alltech for several years now and have made friends with a growing number of people in the animal health industry that includes many countries besides the U.S. Everyone seems to be in good mood. Lots of smiles and laughing going on here. Maybe it’s the “Bounce Back Effect.”

Today we have continuing educational sessions that are species specific before this afternoon’s general sessions. After lunch you will be able to see a live video stream from the Alltech Young Scientist Award presentation. That will start at 2:30pm.

Then starting at 3:30pm we’ll have a live stream of The Great Debate. The topic is, “People, Profits and Planet: Views from around the world.”

In bouncing back, companies are focused on the top line of sales growth and the bottom line of profits. How should we address what UNICEF has called the triple bottom line, being profitable, respecting our customers and employees while sustaining the needs of our planet?

Moderator:
Aidan Connolly, Vice President, Alltech

Panelists:
Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agriconsultants.Co. Ltd., Thailand
Osler Desouzart, Managing Director, OD Consulting Planning and Strategy, Brazil
Trent Loos, Loos Tales, Nebraska, USA
Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, University College Dublin, Ireland

The live stream can be found on the Alltech website.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Chinese Think KFC Is Yum!my

Chuck Zimmerman

Joaquin PelaezWe heard a fascinating branding story yesterday here at the Alltech Symposium. Joaquin Pelaez is the Senior Vice President for Product Excellence at Yum! Brands, Inc. which owns KFC. He told us how the brand is now the most recognizable one in China. He told us that Chinese consumers love the brand and in general prefer western brands because they are highly trusted.

I’ve included an interesting excerpt from his speech below in which he describes what the Chinese think about drive through restaurants and eating in your car. You might be surprised. You can read more about his comments on the Alltech Symposium Blog. I’ve also got a short video clip from the Alltech YouTube Channel too.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio, Video

Branding Story About KFC At Alltech Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

John Brown KentuckyThe former Governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown, gave us a lesson in branding today. His philosophy includes statements like, “If everyone is going left, I go right because that’s where the opportunity is,” and “We didn’t know how to do it until we did it.”

He’s credited as the father of the KFC superbrand and certainly has the facts to back it up when you consider his accomplishments in building the chain from 600 stores to more than 4,500 stores in less than 8 years.

He’s recognized by the Harvard Business School as one of the Great American Business Leaders of the 20th century. They credit him with co-launching the rapid growth of the fast food industry (along with Ray Kroc of McDonald’s).

You can listen to him tell a story about working with Colonel Sanders and KFC below.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Alltech Symposium Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Press ConferenceFollowing this morning’s opening general session Alltech held a press conference that included (left-right) Joaquin Pelaez, Yum Brands, China, Dr. Jim Pettigrew, University of Illinois, Dr. Pearse Lyons and Dr. Mark Lyons. It was an open question and answer session and I have made the audio available for you below.

In it you’ll find quite a few good questions on topics ranging from world hunger and organic food to the status of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Ag journalists are welcome to utilize the audio and photos in the photo album too.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Here’s a short video clip from the press conference. It’s just the first 10 minutes but you’ll see several questions being answered.

Alltech, Audio

Once Upon A Time With Dr. Pearse Lyons and Alltech

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsAlltech founder Dr. Pearse Lyons is now on stage after being introduced for the first time ever by his son, Dr. Mark Lyons.

Dr. Lyons started out saying that four very important words are “Once upon a time.” He has then told us a story about the challenges we face in the world and how we can work to solve them. I’ll be posting his remarks here after the session when I get back to the media room.

BTW. There’s some Symposium tweeting going on. We’re using the #AlltechSymposium hashtag and here’s a place to see what’s being said.

You can listen to or download Dr. Lyons full speech below.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Alltech Medal of Excellence Award To Dr. Jim Pettigrew

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Jim PettigrewDuring our opening session here at the Alltech International Animal Health & Nutrition Symposium we just witnessed the presentation of Alltech’s 20th Medal of Excellence Award. Receiving the award is Dr. Jim Pettigrew, Univerity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

He’s pictured here with the two Dr. Lyons (Mark (left) and Pearse). Right now he’s speaking about world food hunger. I’m recording these opening session presentations and will post a few of them for you later this morning.

I’m posting an excerpt from Dr. Pettigrew’s comments after receiving his award this morning. His focus is on world hunger, its causes and solutions. At the end of his comments he says that “Perhaps one of the most powerful things we could do to encourage agricultural development in poor countries is to reform the agricultural subsidy programs in the United States, in Europe and other developed countries. The reason for that is that our subsidy programs so distort the price signals that should otherwise encourage and reward people for developing agriculture in the poor countries.”

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Kernel Is In Charge At Corn Corps

Chuck Zimmerman

The Kernel is in charge at Corn Corps. That’s the Illinois Corn Growers blog. Find out what they think of Chipotle’s support of HSUS.

As Illinois’ corn farmers, we’re proud to power a sustainable economy through ethanol, livestock and nutritious food. We love agriculture, the land and CornBelters baseball. Visit us on www.ilcorn.org, or follow us on Twitter, http://twitter.com/ilcorn.

Ag Groups, Corn

Sanani Coffee

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 260Regular AgWired fans know that I am a coffee snob. That’s Cindy’s term since I just prefer to drink good coffee. That’s why I got excited when I learned about Sanani, The Original Mocha Coffee.

In this week’s program we’re going to learn not only about Sanani but coffee itself. I think you’ll learn some things you did not know. I sure did. For example, mocha does not mean that this is chocolate flavored coffee. Here’s why from the company website.

Not commonly known is that the root of the word “Mocha” comes from the port city of Mocha in Yemen, where the history of coffee trading began. The Original Mocha Coffee, a pure single-origin coffee identified by its port of origin, is so prized that even the perceived imperfections are a desired characteristic. The irregular shape of these naturally organic beans, a result of an inhospitable growing environment, produces one of the finest cups of coffee in the world.

I visited with the founder and President of Sanani, Tarif Ausaf. He started his career as a computer engineer with a degree from Auburn University. After many years sitting behind a computer he decided to start a coffee career. I’m glad he did.

What attracted me to this story was a line from the company news release, “Intense Flavor without the Nerve Jangling Buzz!” I’m all about flavor and I’ve wanted to be able to drink more than just a cup without getting too much of a morning jolt. I haven’t yet tried the coffee but some is on the way and I’ll report on that later.

In our interview we talk about the history of coffee and things like the differences between arabica and robusto beans. Of course we also talk about how you can order some Sanani and their coffee club.

Since we’re talking coffee the program ends with a song titled, “Smell The Coffee” by Chris Crowder from Music Alley.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.

Audio, Food, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Sponsored by Pro*Act, LLC, five chefs from across the country and throughout the industry received top honors in the 2010 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program at United Fresh 2010.
  • Agrium Advanced Technologies has announced the promotion of Jeff Novak to vice president, marketing and innovation and the expansion of its marketing department to include agronomy, communications, marketing, product innovation and regulatory affairs.
  • The 6th National 25x’25 Summit, a gathering of policy makers; farm, ranch, livestock and forestry leaders; state alliance leaders; congressional staff and federal agency representatives, is set for June 29-July 1 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, in Arlington, Va.
  • The American Soybean Association will host the Legislative Forum July 13-14, 2010, in Washington D.C., in conjunction with the ASA Summer Board meeting.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Alltech Fun Run

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Alltech SymposiumAt Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Industry Symposium we got a break from the weather for an early morning Fun Run.

    This is a very healthy component of the annual event and we had what looked like a near record number of participants this year.

    I don’t know who won. I think we’re all winners! I was just glad to cross the finish line.

    We’ve got the opening general session coming up soon. I’ll be there posting from the session so check back often.

    2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

    Here’s the start of the Fun Run.

    Alltech, Video