Atlanta brewery takes home the overall grand prize for their beer Tears of My Enemies

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Over 5,000 craft beer aficionados attended the fourth annual Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest on May 20, 2017, at the Lexington Convention Center. This festival featured over 65 breweries from across the country, and food from local vendors and some of the best chefs in the state of Kentucky.

More than 50 breweries from four countries submitted 325 unique beers, which were judged by an expert panel of judges according to Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines. At the end of the day, and the bottom of the glass, the Commonwealth Cup was awarded to Tears of My Enemies, a scotch barrel-aged milk stout brewed by Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest marked the beginning of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky. The international conference is expected to be attended by nearly 4,000 people from as many as 80 countries. For more information, visit one.alltech.com.

Follow Kentucky Ale® on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter (@KentuckyAle) for updates as well as information on the Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest. For more information about Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., visit www.kentuckyale.com.

Las sesiones de debate se centrarán en los mercados emergentes, las perspectivas financieras y las tecnologías innovadoras

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17) reunirá a los líderes empresariales más destacados para ofrecer una visión desde dentro de cómo crear y mantener una empresa exitosa.

ONE17, que se celebrará del 21 al 24 de mayo en Lexington (Kentucky, EE. UU.), contará con sesiones específicas sobre tres de los aspectos críticos más importantes de cualquier negocio: mercados emergentes, finanzas e innovación.

"Las empresas se enfrentan a una doble dificultad, dado que deben conocer las tendencias del mercado, pero también adelantarse a ellas", destacó el Dr. Pearse Lyons, fundador y presidente de Alltech. "ONE17 busca inspirar a los empresarios y ofrecerles las herramientas necesarias no solo para abrazar la disrupción, sino también para darle alas de forma activa y situarse en una posición competitiva privilegiada".

Los temas que se abordarán en la sesión de ONE17 dedicadaa los negocios incluirán:

• Entender los movimientos de cabeza en la India y su visión del éxito: un territorio de 1200 millones de habitantes está listo para los negocios. ¿Cómo superamos las barreras para alterar el status quo? 

• Vietnam: se prevé que el mercado de piensos en Vietnam experimente un crecimiento vertiginoso hasta los 10 550 millones de dólares en 2020. Nos adentraremos en las oportunidades que se presentan para las tecnologías emergentes y las prácticas innovadoras en esta industria disruptiva. 

• La disrupción rusa: la prohibición a las importaciones y exportaciones rusas ha tenido un fuerte impacto en el mercado mundial. ¿Cómo podemos evitar que la volatilidad repercuta en la rentabilidad?

• Tres mercados emergentes en Asia Oriental: entre el potencial económico de Camboya, las tierras de pastoreo y las estepas de Mongolia y la creciente apertura de Myanmar al comercio internacional, ¿qué oportunidades nos depara el futuro? 

• Lecciones sobre adquisiciones: conoceremos nuevas fuentes de financiación y bonos, y descubriremos cómo cultivar mejores relaciones con los bancos.

• Walmart: tras sacudir la industria con un aumento salarial después de cinco trimestres consecutivos de bajada de las ventas, Walmart ha atraído la atención de ejecutivos, líderes empresariales y, lo que es más importante aún, clientes. ¿Cómo saber que ha llegado el momento de cambiar? 

• Pequeñas tiendas con grandes ideas: descubriremos cómo una de las adquisiciones más recientes de Alltech ha mantenido un crecimiento constante a lo largo de los últimos cinco años, generando un negocio por valor de 20 millones de dólares. Conoceremos cómo esta pequeña empresa ha alterado el status quo compitiendo con los grandes de la industria.

• Reino Unido: la vida después del Brexit: ahora que el Reino Unido ha cambiado la coyuntura europea, generando ecos por todo el mundo, ¿qué consecuencias tendrá el Brexit para el futuro de la ciencia y los negocios? 

• Oportunidades de negocio a nivel mundial para alimentar a 9000 millones de personas: ¿cómo se están preparando las empresas alimentarias para el crecimiento de la población mundial y cómo sacarle provecho?, ¿quién acabará pagando por ello? 

• El Acelerador Pearse Lyons y el mercado agrotecnólógico: Alltech lanzó el Acelerador Pearse Lyons en 2016, seleccionando 10 start-ups de un total de 184 solicitudes para participar en el programa tutorizado de 12 semanas de duración. Conoceremos las ventajas de este programa exclusivo.

• Presentación de las start-ups del Acelerador: el Acelerador Pearse Lyons está redirigiendo la atención hacia la innovación en la industria agroganadera al reunir a los mejores emprendedores de todo el mundo en el campo de la agricultura, la ganadería y la alimentación. ¿Cómo moldeará esta disrupción el futuro de la agroganadería y cómo puedes formar parte de ello?

• ¿Quién es quién en el mundillo? Conseguir financiación para tu start-up agrotecnológica: ¿a qué destinan los inversores su dinero? Descubriremos las tendencias en inversión agrotecnológica y desarrollo de tecnologías.

• ¡Kentucky apuesta por las start-ups! ¿Por qué Kentucky es el lugar adecuado para emprendedores y start-ups?: ¿cómo es el panorama económico de la agricultura? 

Para obtener más información sobre las sesiones temáticas de #ONE17 dedicadas a los negocios, visite: 
Mercados emergentes
Negocios y finanzas
Aceleración de la innovación

Únase a la conversación en Twitter con la etiqueta #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — In just a few short weeks, some of the brightest scientific thinkers from colleges and universities around the world will gather under one roof for an opportunity to compete at the highest level and be rewarded for their innovative research. The Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, now in its 12th year, features the world’s largest agriscience competition, with 154 nominations from 134 professors representing 121 universities from 36 countries in 2017 alone.

The regional finalists will attend AYS Discovery Week, held in conjunction with ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, to present their papers to a panel of international judges. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position for the global undergraduate winner as well as $5,000 USD and a fully funded postdoctorate position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner.

The regional finalists selected for the graduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Tanimowo Damilola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
  • “Broiler nutritional programming using betaine”
• Syed Saad Gilani, University of Adelaide, Australia
  • “Gut health biomarkers in poultry”
• Delano Dias Schleder, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • “Shrimp resistance to stress and disease”
• Jonas de Souza, Michigan State University, United States
  • “Fatty acid metabolism”

The regional finalists selected for the undergraduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Sophie Hazelden, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
  • “Pre-weaning dietary supplementation in piglets”
• Sujiyanto, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
  • “Trehalose supplementation for heat-stressed broilers”
• Nicolàs Curubeto, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Argentina
  • “Edible coatings for food applications”
• Joshua Gukowsky, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
  • “Detecting antibiotic residues in foods”

“The Alltech Young Scientist program provides a great opportunity for students to showcase their research talent in front of a global audience, including some of the most respected leaders within agriculture and agriscience,” said Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech. “We are rewarding the undergraduate and graduate competition winners with the opportunity to join our global team.”

For more information about the Alltech Young Scientist program and to view the regional placements from this year’s program, please visit: AlltechYoungScientist.com and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.

Tanimowo Damilola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Syed Saad Gilani,University of Adelaide, Australia, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Delano Dias Schleder,Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Sophie Hazelden,Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Sujiyanto,Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Nicolàs Curubeto,Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Argentina, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Joshua Gukowsky,University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

George Blankenship, antiguo directivo de Tesla Motors, Apple Computer y GAP Inc., recibirá la Medalla a la Excelencia de Alltech durante ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17) que se celebrará del 21 al 24 de mayo en Lexington (Kentucky, EE. UU.). La conferencia anual internacional, que busca ser un lugar de encuentro para inspirar la innovación, llega a su 33ª edición y se prevé que atraiga a más de 3000 participantes, venidos de casi 80 países, para alentar el debate en torno a las posibilidades de disrupción en el campo de los negocios, la tecnología, la alimentación, la agricultura y la ganadería.

La Medalla a la Excelencia de Alltech es la más alta distinción que concede anualmente Alltech a una persona en reconocimiento por sus inestimables logros y liderazgo. En ediciones anteriores, Colin Powell, ex secretario de Estado de los EE. UU, o Norman Borlaug, padre de la "Revolución verde", fueron también merecedores de este premio.

Este año, George Blankenship ha sido escogido como ganador de la Medalla a la Excelencia de Alltech por su capacidad para crear experiencias inigualables para los clientes en dos de las marcas más disruptivas de nuestros tiempos: Apple y Tesla.

George Blankenship impulsó la filosofía comercial de Apple, Tesla y GAP, transformando la experiencia del cliente. En Apple, concibió una de las estrategias comerciales de crecimiento más exitosas de nuestra historia reciente, aumentando la lealtad hacia la marca y consiguiendo beneficios exponenciales. Luego, en Tesla, redefinió la experiencia de compra de un coche, introduciendo la marca en los centros comerciales, algo que nunca antes había hecho un fabricante de automóviles.

En ONE17, George Blankenship tomará la palabra en la sesión plenaria que se celebrará en el Rupp Arena a fin de inspirar a empresas y emprendedores para impulsar la disrupción en su industria y sobresalir como líderes.

Ya se ha abierto el plazo para inscribirse a ONE: La conferencia de Alltech sobre las ideas que se celebrará en Lexington (Kentucky, EE. UU.) del 21 al 24 de mayo. Visite one.alltech.com para más información e inscribirse. Únase a la conversación online con la etiqueta #ONE17.

Para más información vea el vídeo promocional de #ONE17:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRdoYgkcm5c

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Strengthening its commitment to bringing the latest field-proven technologies to Western U.S. livestock producers and companion animal owners, Alltech has purchased WestFeeds, a leading animal nutrition company in Montana.

“WestFeeds has a strong reputation of providing producers with high quality animal nutrition products,” said Michael Castle, COO of Alltech. “We believe there is great benefit for our customers in our teams joining forces for the future.”

With state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Billings and Great Falls, as well as outlets in Billings, Dillon, Great Falls, Lewistown and Miles City, Montana, WestFeeds has a demonstrated commitment to local support.

“Our WestFeeds team is embracing the opportunity to join Alltech because we can see very clearly how our companies’ strengths complement one another, to the benefit of our customers,” said Jerry Begger, general manager of WestFeeds.

Begger will continue leading WestFeeds, assisted by ten-year Alltech veteran Kyle Klimpke.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, will host a focus session specifically dedicated to the equine industry. Experts and enthusiasts alike will gather for intriguing discussions on innovations in the industry, from disrupting traditional nutritional and breeding practices to brand development.

“We believe it’s important for those in the equine industry to gather here, in the horse capital of the world, to be inspired to harness the disruption on the horizon for horse health,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Our equine focus session will facilitate open discussion and drive disruptive thinking for the future.”

ONE17 equine focus session

• Disrupting Traditional Nutritional Practices: How do we rethink diet formulations for horses? When it comes to equine nutrition, how can we bring new discoveries and techniques out of the lab and into the mainstream?
• Using Enhanced Nutrition and Partnerships to Drive Market Share Growth: While others were cutting costs and cutting corners, find out how Gain Feeds harnessed innovation, research and traceability to set themselves apart with premium offerings and, in the process, became Ireland’s biggest selling feed brand.
• Thinking Differently: The Secrets Behind Growing the Iconic Coolmore Brand: Beginning from humble roots, Coolmore has grown into a premier global brand and a household name. Discover the secrets that contributed to building one of the leading equine operations in the world today.
• Breaking the Mold on Traditional Breeding Techniques: Hear from one of the pioneers of equine embryo transfer and surrogacy as she shares the lessons that were learned from these innovations as well as what other practices and methods may be on the horizon. What role does diet play? Have we overlooked blind spots that may present opportunities for disruption?
• Changing the Face of Breeding and Performance Through Genomics: Genetic testing is becoming more accessible and affordable with each passing year. What are some of the unexpected ways that DNA profiling is already changing our industry? Is it cause for concern, or is it cause for excitement?
• Driving Tourism in the Horse Capital of the World: When you close your eyes and think of Kentucky, what do you see? For many, they see rolling pastures, miles of fences and picturesque horse barns, thanks in large part to the work of Horse Country and its partners. Learn how these collaborations are built, what it takes to brand a region and build a revenue stream, and if it could work in your area.

For more information on the ONE17 equine focus session, visit http://one.alltech.com/equine.

ONE17 is approved for 7 ARPAS and 35 AAVSB RACE continuing education units.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

WHAT:Join Dr. Kate Jacques, director of nutrition at Alltech, as she discusses the key obstacles keeping your operation from being profitable and the three ways to combat these issues. Learn the secrets of Alltech’s trademark technology Bio-Mos® and the results producers are seeing in their calf crops year in and year out.
 

WHEN:Thursday, May 11, 2017
2:30 p.m. ET
 

WHERE:Reserve a spot: http://go.alltech.com/strike-out-scours.
 

OTHER:Jacques’ presentation will be followed by a live question-and-answer session.

About the speaker:

Dr. Kate Jacques is currently the director of nutrition at Alltech, based in Nicholasville, Kentucky. In addition to leading research trials, Jacques provides technical and sales support to Alltech staff. Prior to joining Alltech, she received her Ph.D. from Kansas State University. Jacques has been with Alltech for over 30 years and is an expert on the gut health of ruminant animals.
 

There’s a tremendous amount of money invested in silage, from growing the crop to storing it. Yet shrink on dairies ranges from 15 to 25 percent, if not more! This level of shrink can equate to a loss of 15 to 25 cents for every dollar invested in putting the silage up.

Where silage shrink occurs

The largest amount of shrink and reduction in quality seems to occur at the top of the silage pile. This part of the pile is the worst in terms of packing density. It’s also exposed to the most oxygen. This enables oxygen to easily penetrate the silage, creating an environment for molds and yeast to replicate, which will lead to deteriorated silage (aka, top spoilage).

Generally, top spoilage represents about one-third of what was once good silage. For example, 4 inches of top spoilage was originally 12 inches or 1 foot of quality silage. It is best not to feed the spoiled portion of the silage in order to minimize the risk of costly health and production challenges. This part of the pile, therefore, should be a major focus in terms of management.

Making silage is easier said than done and is much like piecing a puzzle together. Since there are so many pieces to the silage puzzle, it can be difficult. The key factors include making sure forages are harvested at the correct maturity and moisture, proper packing, excluding oxygen and managing the face at feed out. In terms of top spoilage, all these areas can be a factor, with packing density and excluding oxygen being most important.

Cost-effective ways to improve silage management:

• Silage packing density should be 15 lbs. DM/ft³ or more.
• Typically, a ratio of one pack tractor to one harvester will achieve 15 lbs. DM/ft³.
• Design piles to allow for more packing on the side or shoulder of the pile.
• Use a temporary cover overnight or in between any breaks in harvest.
• Utilize a mold inhibitor on the silage surface prior to covering.
• Cover the pile as quickly as possible once harvest is complete.
• Seal plastic edges and seams with gravel bags or dirt to prevent airflow under the plastic.
• Only unseal what you need for the day to limit the oxygen exposure of the silage.

Higher quality silage with lower shrink will benefit your bottom line. Given that silage is a major component of the cow’s diet and impacts the types and amounts of other ingredients in the diet, taking steps to improve silage management practices and specifically focusing on reducing top spoilage can have a big impact on reducing silage shrink and improving quality. There is a lot of money invested in putting up silage, so it is crucial to make sure that it is put up correctly to minimize shrink, retain nutrients and ultimately preserve that investment.

During mid-February in many areas of the United States, children could be heard laughing and playing outside, but instead of sledding down hills and building snowmen, they were playing baseball. Cherry trees and dogwoods were beginning to bud, and the grass would soon need to be mowed.    

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has decreed this winter (December 2016–February 2017) as the sixth warmest on record. While the conditions have been warm and dry in the Midwest, California and the western part of the U.S. have experienced a very wet winter that has resulted in widespread flooding, a mixed blessing for an area that has been under drought conditions for several years.    

What does this wild weather mean for growers? 

Early warm weather can increase pressure from various sources:

• Diseases that may survive the season if the ground does not freeze
• Insects that can find a ready food source in early emerging crops
• Early weed growth that could mean an increase in weed population, decreasing the ability of the crop to establish itself
• Cool, wet soil that can hinder seed germination and increase the probability of mold
• Soil compaction caused by machinery being used on wet soils during early planting can decrease nutrient availability and reduce drainage and the ability for adequate rooting
• Possibilities of late-season freezes that can damage new planting and early growth

What should growers do in early warm weather conditions?

Increasing the organic matter and availability of nutrients can help decrease the effects of soil compaction and help the soil bounce back more quickly. Healthier soil will provide a solid foundation for improved plant health, enabling the crop to better resist damage from frost and disease. Frequent scouting and prompt field testing will allow the grower to more effectively manage weed, insect and disease pressure and prevent any issues from becoming widespread.

Have a question or comment?

In the Middle Ages, farmers would put a bell around the neck of the lead ram (a wether) in a flock of sheep. The movements of the flock could be tracked by hearing the bell, even if the flock was not in sight. More than 1000 years later, we still use the term ‘bellwether’ to refer to an indicator or a predictor of something.

Drawn on data from 130 countries, including visits to more than 30,000 feed mills, Alltech’s annual Global Feed Survey (GFS) report has become a bellwether of global economic trends, sometimes flagging changes before other indicators do. The market for animal feed has a direct impact on food prices, making the relative health of the global feed industry an interesting proxy for the health of the agricultural sector and by extension the overall global economy. Although the U.S. and China are the two biggest markets, and there are lots of interesting nuggets from around the world, this year the big stories from the GFS are found in the Southern Hemisphere.

Discover the eight wonders of the world, according to the Alltech Global Feed Survey, in Aidan Connolly's full Bellwether post on LinkedIn.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Farmers are continuously adapting to changes in technology, markets and the weather — the constant unknown — all while working hard to ensure a future for their farm and to feed a growing world.

The Alltech “My Farm. My Future.” Facebook contest offered producers the opportunity to create a video that shared their farm’s story and their plans for the future for a chance to win a trip to ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held in Lexington, Kentucky, May 21–24, 2017. The videos were judged differently depending on the country: some were publicly voted on via Facebook “likes,” while others were selected by a panel.

The global winners of the 2017 Alltech “My Farm. My Future.” contest are:

United States:

• Rhett Smith (citrus, grain and beef producer) from Sebring, Florida (Watch video)
• Tammy Wiedenbeck (grain and beef producer) from Lancaster, Wisconsin (Watch video)

• Lauren Neale (sheep and cattle producer) from McMinnville, Tennessee (Watch video)

Canada:

• Alison Blair (beef producer) from Pine Lake, Alberta (Watch video)
• Andrew Brekveld (dairy producer) from Thunder Bay, Ontario (Watch video)

Chile:

• Roberto Illanes (dairy producer) from Lonquén (Watch video)
• Fernando Peña (dairy producer) from Melipilla (Watch video)

Argentina:

• Grupo Chiavassa (dairy producers) from Carlos Pellegrini, west of Santa Fe Province (Watch video)

Peru:

• Carlos Tuesta from Granja el Tahuampal, located in Moyobamba, San Martín (Watch video)

Ecuador:

• José Alberto Sánchez Páez, Hacienda La Merced de Villota, located in Sangolqui, Pichincha (Watch video)

Mexico:

• Ricardo Murrieta (dairy producer) from Establo Agropecuario Cuatro Vientos, Sonora state (Watch video)
• Alicia Vera (beef producer) from Ahuatlán Farm (Watch video)

Costa Rica:

• Xianny Rojas (layer producer) from Avícola Las Palmas, located in San Antonio de la Cueva, Naranjo, Alajuela (Watch video)

El Salvador:

• Marina Rivera from Avícola Campestre, San Miguel, San Salvador (Watch video)

Malaysia:

• Wong Soon Ping, Kean Chuan Agritech (Watch video)

“In no other business is future-planning more important than in farming. Yet, at the same time, in no other business is it as difficult as it can be within agriculture with its myriad variables,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “We’re proud to salute these forward-thinking farmers for sharing their ideas and inspiring us with their stories of how they are ensuring the future of their farm and, indeed, all of our futures as a hungry, growing world.”

Registration is now open for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, from May 21–24. The annual international conference draws more than 3,000 attendees from nearly 80 countries to network and discuss world-changing ideas. For more information or to register, visit one.alltech.com. Join the conversation online with #ONE17.

How many times have you heard a comment like: “Math is not for me. Music is what I want to do.”?

There’s a common stereotype that the arts and math exist in different realms of talent, or even different parts of the brain. However, historically speaking, arts and math have long been intertwined. The Pythagoreans of ancient Greece were the first researchers known to have investigated the expression of musical scales in terms of numerical ratios.

But, what is music, really?

One of the simplest, yet most accurate, definitions of music is: sound(s) organized with rhythm, melody and harmony, put together in a meaningful way. All three components — rhythm, melody and harmony — can be described by numbers associated with physical properties. You have probably heard of “harmonic frequency,” or “resonance.” These musical qualities are described using numbers with precise meanings.

If you are a casual listener, you’ve probably never realized that the mathematical properties of music have a significant impact on what you favor in terms of style.

That is where Tech Gnar — the undergraduate winning venture of the 2017 Alltech Innovation Competition — comes into play.

Tech Gnar is an application created by Western Kentucky University (WKU) undergraduate students Taylor Wathen, Zachary Wathen and Blake Knott. The app uses an algorithm to break down songs into numbers and correlate them based on which songs have previously been “liked” by the user. It uses this intelligence to then recommend songs with similar characteristics.

“It’s very hard to argue with math,” said Taylor Wathen.

The WKU team therefore believes Tech Gnar can beat (pun intended!) competitors’ recommendations with more fine-tuned suggestions for the user.

They are now on version number 771 of their app, and it is capable of filtering songs by instrument.

According to Taylor Wathen, Tech Gnar’s next steps include launching the website and mobile app as well as working in partnership with some record companies (mainly from Nashville) to come up with “perfect hit songs.” Furthermore, they plan to strengthen their digital presence through enhancements to their algorithm.

Before you know it, you could be listening to your new favorite artist, tapping your toes to the very beat that recommended it to you.

As the undergraduate winners of the 2017 Alltech Innovation Competition in Kentucky, the WKU Tech Gnar team took home $10,000, the same amount with which Dr. Pearse Lyons founded Alltech in 1980.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Former Tesla Motors, Apple Computer and GAP Inc. executive George Blankenship will receive the Alltech Medal of Excellence during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17) in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, held May 21–24. An annual event committed to inspiring innovation, the 33rd international conference is expected to draw crowds of more than 3,000 from nearly 80 countries for discussion of disruptive ideas in business, technology, food and agriculture.

The Alltech Medal of Excellence is Alltech’s highest accolade, awarded annually to someone of great accomplishment and leadership. Previous honorees include former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Norman Borlaug, the father of “the Green Revolution.”

Blankenship is receiving the Alltech Medal of Excellence in recognition of his ability to create unrivaled customer experiences with two of the most disruptive brands of our time: Apple and Tesla.

Blankenship pioneered Apple, Tesla and GAP’s retail philosophies, transforming the customer experience. At Apple, he crafted one of the most dominant retail growth strategies in recent history, growing brand loyalty and exponential profit. Then, at Tesla, Blankenship redefined the car buying experience, moving the Tesla brand into shopping malls, something never done before by a car manufacturer.

At ONE17, Blankenship will take the main plenary stage in Rupp Arena to inspire businesses to disrupt their industry and emerge as leaders.

Registration is now open for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, held May 21–24. Visit one.alltech.com to learn more and to register. Join the conversation online with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, will host focus sessions specifically dedicated to health, wellness and food. Food business leaders, members of the medical community and the simply curious will gather for thought-provoking discussions ranging from disease-fighting strategies to consumer-driven disruptions within the food business.

“From issues such as Alzheimer’s disease and accessible, affordable medical care to ‘free-from’ food sales, disruption is rife and it will keep pressing forward, with or without us,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference is about equipping you to embrace disruption in such a way that you in fact become the driver of disruption in your industry. It’s about innovative, practical ideas and the inspiration to go out and make those ideas happen.”

ONE17 Health and Wellness session

• Disrupting the Medical Hierarchy: Could big expenses and long waits become a thing of the past? SuKarne disrupted medical care in Mexico, providing 6.5 million patients across three main campuses and 52 satellite clinics with accessible and affordable care. What could we learn from their model?
• The Zika Virus: Could we be using existing biological tools to tackle a global disease?
• Hide and Seek: How Do We Avoid the Disruptive Messages and Protect Our Health?: Information is everywhere, but what is true? How can we trust the messages coming from “big food companies?”
• India: Three Game Changers: India is a land of 1.2 billion people with massive opportunities yet major health problems. From two in a bed in maternity wards to a looming diabetes epidemic rooted in shifting diets that include more and more sugar, what can be done?
• Current Knowledge and Perspectives on Alzheimer’s Disease: Where is Research Taking Us?: Where has medical research taken us in the last 20 years, and what can we expect for the future?
• Are Hidden Food Sensitivities Disrupting Your Well-Being?: A new world of food sensitivities is changing the way people eat. What does this mean for the health and food industries? Is food the new medicine?

ONE17 Food session

• Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free: Are These Diets Here to Stay?: “Free-from” food sales have skyrocketed in recent years. Is this a lasting trend, and what are the opportunities?
• Craft Beer Disrupting Supermarkets: Lessons from craft beer on how to stand out on crowded supermarket shelves.
• Disrupting the International Marketplace: Dean & DeLuca: What lessons can we learn from this international company disrupting the food chain?
• Supermarket Senior Center: The Millennial Perspective of Grocery Stores: What can supermarkets do to appeal to uninterested millennials?
• Barbarians at the Food Industry Gate: How will mergers and acquisitions in food affect you?
• Why Kitchen Tables Matter: The Lost Art of Eating: As consumers gain speed and convenience in their food choices, what’s been lost? Rediscover the hidden truths of the kitchen table and how they just might change how you eat your next meal.

For more information on the ONE17 health and wellness focus session, visit http://one.alltech.com/health-wellness, and learn more about the food focus session at http://one.alltech.com/food.

Register before May 1 to save $200 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17. ONE17 is approved for 7 ARPAS and 35 AAVSB RACE continuing education units.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.