Great Debate: Should the Food Chain be Concerned by the Triple Bottom Line of People, Profits and Planet?
During Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium taking place at the Lexington Convention Center in Kentucky, USA from May 16-19, 2010, Professor Patrick Wall, former chairman of the management board of the European Food & Safety Association (EFSA), Ireland, Trent Loos, radio, print and agribusiness commentator, USA, Osler Desouzart, Consultant, Brazil and Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agri Consultants, Thailand will each take the stage to discuss their ideas in front of over 1,500 delegates representing top global agribusinesses. The debate will be chaired by Alltech’s Vice President, Aidan Connolly.
Lexington, KY (Vocus) April 20, 2010
In 2009, feed and food producers faced similar challenges to other industries including, consolidation and an increased focus on the bottom line of profits. In bouncing back from the global recession, agribusinesses face additional concerns with regards to the quality of life and availability of food for the people on our planet. This is what the WHO has called the 'Triple Bottom Line':
People – Why do 1 billion of the 6.5 billion go to bed hungry and how will we feed a population projected to grow by 50%? Profits – How can agribusiness maintain profitability in the face of legislation? Planet – How do we answer criticisms of current farming practices by showing how agriculture efficiencies continue to improve? During Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium (http://www. alltech. com/symposium) taking place at the Lexington Convention Center in Kentucky, USA from May 16-19, 2010, Professor Patrick Wall, former chairman of the management board of the European Food & Safety Association (EFSA), Ireland, Trent Loos, radio, print and agribusiness commentator, USA, Osler Desouzart, Consultant, Brazil and Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agri Consultants, Thailand will each take the stage to discuss their ideas in front of over 1,500 delegates representing top global agribusinesses. The debate will be chaired by Alltech’s Vice President, Aidan Connolly.
“With the turbulence caused by the current economic storm, it is easy to lose sight of the importance and achievability of People, Profits and Planet - the Triple Bottom Line. It is an honor for us to host these respected figures at our 26th Symposium,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech.
“The Triple Bottom Line is vital for sustaining success in agribusiness in the 21st Century. That means recruiting and retaining the best people, finding ways to produce in a way that is not only economically viable, but also recognizes the importance of sustaining our planet. Within this context, Alltech’s ‘Great Debate’ takes on a great importance,” Dr. Lyons continued. “It is clear that ‘the Triple Bottom Line’ must be viewed through the prism of the bounce back from the current economic crisis. Our industry has no other choice.”
This is Alltech’s 3rd annual industry ‘Great Debate’, and it forms part of the company’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Industry Symposium, to be held in Lexington, Kentucky USA from the 16th to the 19th May 2010.
The Symposium will comprise industry and species-specific presentations as well as interactive sessions where professionals from around the world can exchange ideas and strategies.
Please visit www. alltech. com/symposium (http://www. alltech. com/symposium)] for further information and to request your place at Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Industry Symposium.
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Alltech is a global leader in natural animal nutrition, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. With more than 2000 employees in 120 countries, the company has developed a strong regional presence in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle-East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
Alltech is proud sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Lexington, Kentucky, September 25 – October 10, 2010. Visit the official site of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at www. alltechfeigames. com] for complete information about the event or to purchase tickets.
Speaker Profiles:
Prof. Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, University College Dublin (UCD)
Prof. Patrick Wall’s teaching and research interests include food borne diseases, lifestyle related diseases and health damaging consumer behavior. He is a co-director of the UCD Centre for Behavior and Health which is engaged in research on behavioral economics, population health disparities and policy interventions. Prof. Wall was the first Chief Executive of the Irish Food Safety Authority and contributed to the setting up of this science based consumer protection agency (http://www. fsai. I.e (http://www. fsai. I.e).). He was the second Chairperson of the European Food Safety Authority and was one of seven non-Chinese nationals on the committee advising the Beijing Food Authority on food safety controls for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is the Chairperson of the Mental Health Commission’s Research Committee. He is a member of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; - Healthy Eating Guidelines steering committee. He is a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Public Health, a Member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of Ireland, a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in the UK and is a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agri Consultants. Co. Ltd.
Gordon Butland retired from Rabobank International and now concentrates on advising clients along the whole chain of the poultry industry, including genetics, feed, animal health, hatchery and slaughterhouse equipment companies as well as processors. In addition to having served as a Rabobank representative for many years, he has held various senior financial management positions including the positions of chief financial officer for the Anglo American Group in Brazil and the Coca Cola Company in South Latin America. Mr. Butland has clients in Thailand, China, India, Brazil and even a small turkey company in the USA.
Osler Desouzart, Managing Director, ODConsulting Planning and Strategy
Osler Desouzart was former Director of Sadia, one of the world's leading integrated operations for poultry production and exports and also a very large processor of soybean meal and soya oil. He also held director positions at various stages of his career at Frangosul and Perdigao and was particularly involved with exports. In more recent times, having established his own consultancy business, Mr. Desouzart has presented at many of the leading conferences around the world, including the World Agriculture Forum. He speaks passionately about the requirement for meat production to lead development within economies such as Brazil and describes how it could be the key to building sustainable economic growth in the developing world. He has also worked with the Sustainable Food Laboratory, which he joined, in his words, to teach NGOs the truth about animal agriculture. His objective is to ensure that NGOs appreciate how animal production already meets many of the requirements for more sustainable and environmentally-friendly during the production of meat, milk and eggs. Mr. Desouzart explains that in judging ‘between starvation and environmental degradation one isn’t more important than the other.’
Trent Loos, Farmer, Rancher and Radio Host
Trent Loos is an expert on American agriculture and an avid public speaker, travelling the United States and speaking to people of all ages about the issues facing the industry today. He records, produces and sends his radio programs from wherever his travels take him using his laptop computer and the internet. His daily radio show, Loos Tales presently has a radio listening audience of 4 million and can be heard on more than 100 stations across the country. He is also a regular columnist for Feedstuffs newspaper and partners with the publication for their FoodLink project, an initiative focused on providing the facts related to the U. S. food production system.
Press Contact:
Christina Lombard
Communications Manager Europe and Asia
Alltech European Bioscience Centre
Sarney, Summerhill Road
Dunboyne, County Meath
Ireland
Telephone: +353 1 825 2244
Facsimile: +353 1 825 2668
Email: clombard(at)alltech(dot)com
Website: www. alltech. com
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