[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.

[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.

[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) is gathering top business leaders for an inside look at how to create, and maintain, a successful company. ONE17, held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, will host dedicated sessions on three of the most critical elements of any business:

• Emerging markets
• Finance
• Innovation

“Businesses have the unique challenge of not only staying aware of market trends, but also staying ahead of them,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “ONE17 aims to give businesses the inspiration and tools to not only weather disruption, but to actively create disruption and emerge with an unparalleled competitive edge.”

Business discussion topics at ONE17 will include:

• Understanding the Indian Nod and Touch for Success: A land of 1.2 billion people is open for business. How do we break through the barriers to challenge the status quo?
• Vietnam: The animal feed market in Vietnam is expected to see a $10.55 billion explosion by 2020. Learn what opportunities are being created for emerging technologies and innovative practices in this disruptive industry.
• Russian Disruption: Import and export bans on Russia are having a significant impact on the global market. How do we keep the volatility from impacting profitability?
• Three Emerging Markets of East Asia: Between Cambodia’s economic potential, Mongolia’s steppes and pastures landscape, and Myanmar’s increasing openness to international trade, what opportunities will arise?
• Acquisition Lessons: Tap into new sources of finances and bonds, and learn how to cultivate better relationships with banks.
• Walmart: After disrupting the industry with an employee pay raise following five straight quarters of low sales, Walmart has caught the attention of corporate executives, business leaders and, most importantly, customers. How do you know when it is time to make a change?
• Little Box Stores with Big Ideas: Discover how one of Alltech’s recent acquisitions, Cowtown, has maintained constant growth over five years and has created a $20 million business. Learn how this small company disrupted the status quo by competing in a big-league industry.
• Great Britain: Life After Brexit: Now that Great Britain has disrupted the European Union, sending ripples throughout the world, what does Brexit mean for the future of science and business?
• Global Business Opportunities and Feeding 9 Billion People: How are food businesses preparing for and profiting from population growth? Who ultimately pays for this?
• The Pearse Lyons Accelerator and the Market for Ag-Tech: Alltech began The Pearse Lyons Accelerator in 2016, selecting 10 startups from 184 applicants to participate in a 12-week “business boot camp.” Discover the advantages of an accelerator program.
• Pitchfest: The Pearse Lyons Accelerator is highlighting innovation in the agriculture industry by bringing together the best food and agriculture ventures from around the world. What does this disruption mean for the future of agriculture, and how can you be a part of it?
• Who’s Who in the Zoo? Raising Money for Your Ag-Tech Startup: Where are investors putting their money? Learn about the trends in ag-tech, agri-investments and developing technologies.
• Kentucky is for Startups! Why Kentucky is the Right Place for Entrepreneurs and Startups: What does the economic landscape of agriculture look like?

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Immediately following Lexington Craft Beer Week, May 12–21, brewers and distillers who wish to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive and growing global market will have the opportunity to participate in an innovative forum for ideas.

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, will feature a dedicated session on craft brewing and distilling.

Beverage experts from around the world will explore topics such as:

• Distilleries, the Belgian Way: Belgium has reintroduced a 16th-century spirit called genever. With the world thirsty for new spirits, should we actually be looking back in time for inspiration? How will a virtual tour of a Belgian distillery, The Belgian Owl, evoke new ideas for today’s producers?
• Moonshine: Learn how towns such as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, have used the production of moonshine to attract tourists.
• Shochu: A century-old traditional sweet potato beverage from Japan, shochu has made its way to Hawaii. Will it remain a modest beverage product, or does it have the potential to disrupt the market?
• History in the Remaking: The Liberties, an ancient part of Dublin, is home to Guinness, George Roe Distillery and, soon, Pearse Lyons Distillery. Can we disrupt the industry while honoring tradition?
• Craft Beers Disrupting National Chains: How can craft brewers make their mark in the big box stores? How do you stand out in a crowd of more than 4,000 craft breweries in the U.S.?

Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech, is no stranger to disruption. Inspired by the five generations of coopers before him, Dr. Lyons was the first Irishman to earn a degree from the British School of Malting & Brewing and is the owner of one of the only joint brewing and distilling locations in the world.

“Disruption will be key to craft brewing and distilling’s ongoing growth,” said Dr. Lyons. “We want ONE17 to be a forum for exchanging ideas and for being inspired to take the kind of risks that disrupt brewing and distilling as we know it today.”

Get in the mood for the discussion by attending the Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest. Featuring more than 60 craft breweries and 240 beers, live music and local bites that will satisfy any craving, the event will run from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 20.

Register before May 1 to save $200 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

Winning teams took home $10,000 apiece, the same amount with which Dr. Pearse Lyons founded Alltech

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — As seven universities demonstrated at the Alltech Innovation Competition 2017, university-level innovation is firing on all cylinders in Kentucky. A range of disruptive technologies were showcased, from eco-friendly and Kentucky-centric ventures to those featuring virtual reality and music.

Western Kentucky University’s undergraduate team and the University of Kentucky’s graduate team took home the top prizes of $10,000 apiece, the same amount with which Dr. Pearse Lyons founded Alltech, now a more than $2 billion company.

“Kentucky was a winner today,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, vice president and chief scientific officer at Alltech. “We really saw what the capabilities of our young people are.”

The Western Kentucky University undergraduate team, including students Taylor Wathen, Blake Knott and Zachary Wathen, and their advisors Dawn Langkamp Bolton and Whitney Oliver Peake, captured the undergraduate first place prize with their venture Tech Gnar. The program and database uses hundreds of complex measurements to suggest songs to users that are tailor-made to their musical interests. They are planning to launch their website and an app at the end of the year.

“This competition is great, because it shows that anyone can be an entrepreneur,” Taylor Wathen said, noting that neither she nor her team members are business majors. “We created this venture for the love of music.”

The University of Kentucky graduate team, including students Fletcher Young and Zach Yonts, and their advisors Mariam Gorjian and Warren O. Nash III, captured the graduate first place prize with their venture Stillage Solutions.

The University of Kentucky graduate team, including students Fletcher Young and Zach Yonts, and their advisors Mariam Gorjian and Warren O. Nash III, captured the graduate first place prize with their venture Stillage Solutions. By using leftover stillage from the brewing and distilling process to produce activated carbon, the team hopes to develop a low-cost, high-quality and more environmentally friendly activated carbon product than what is currently developed using coal, coconut shells and wood. This product could be used in everything from water and gas filtration systems to fuel cells and supercapacitator-driven devices, such as cell phones. With Kentucky’s booming brewing and distilling sector, they felt well-placed to enter this market.

“This is what it’s all about — disrupting the industry,” said Young. “With our venture, we can start small, because all of the products we need to begin can be found locally, and then we can expand.”

For the first time, Alltech also awarded the Disruptor Award — a reflection of this year’s theme at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, “Disrupt the Disruptors” — to the team with the most innovative venture. This year’s Disruptor Award of $2,000 was awarded to Bellarmine University’s undergraduate team for their EcoCups idea, a biodegradable version of the popular K-Cups used for coffee. The team members included Ariana Sherrard, Michaela Julian and Michael Ann Humphreys, and their advisor was Dr. Michael Mattei.

The Bellarmine University undergraduate team, including students Ariana Sherrard, Michaela Julian and Michael Ann Humphreys, and their advisor Dr. Michael Mattei, captured the Disruptor Award for their venture EcoCups.

The winning teams’ competition included Bellarmine University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, the University of Louisville and the University of Pikeville, with concepts ranging from seasonal, family farm models to virtual laboratories.

“All of the unique ventures presented today reflect the high quality of education, teaching and entrepreneurial talent in Kentucky,” said Suniti Mujumdar, manager of educational engagement at Alltech. “These creative students have the spark to ignite meaningful change to economically benefit the Commonwealth.

“The Alltech Innovation Competition’s goal is to connect students with business professionals for inspiration as they pursue their passions toward building extraordinary careers,” she continued. “We are honored to be involved with fostering the next generation of entrepreneurship in Kentucky.”

The Alltech Innovation Competition started in 2013 in Kentucky and Ireland, and challenges undergraduate and graduate university teams to develop forward-thinking business plans on innovative ideas that will improve local economies and have the potential to change the world.

Alltech also holds sister competitions in Ireland, India and Brazil, reflecting Alltech’s commitment to lifelong education and the inspiration of innovation and entrepreneurship across the globe.

Alltech’s education and entrepreneurship commitment doesn’t stop at the undergraduate and graduate levels, but will continue at the company’s flagship international conference, now in its 33rd year, in Lexington, Kentucky. Registration for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, to be held May 21–24, is now open. For more information, visit one.alltech.com. Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to aqua production. From consumer demand for sustainable, healthy farmed fish to the potential of seaweed, ONE17 will provide real-life solutions for aqua producers.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “The aqua production focus session will provide practical solutions that position aqua producers to meet consumer demands, sustainability requirements and profitability objectives.”

ONE17 aquaculture focus session

• Simpler Salmon: Is there an easier way to combat the sticky issue of sea lice?
• Back to the Basics: Consumers want a sustainable, healthy farmed fish without fish oil or fish meal, but they still want the health benefits that come from a normal fish diet, specifically DHA omega-3. Can we solve the fish oil and fish meal problem?
• Seaweed's Enormous Potential: Discover the potential of one of nature's original foods, from iodine to fiber and beyond.
• Total Sustainability, Total Traceability: Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) not only reduce water use, but maintain water quality and reduce ammonia toxicity.
• The Faroe Islands: A Small Group, but a Great Disruptor:. Faroe Islanders are successfully delivering what consumers want in their fish: the right color, the right taste and the right DHA levels. They also produce their fish with minimum water requirements. Do the Faroe Islands offer a model for the future?

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

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to crop science. From soil nutrient management to citrus greening prevention, ONE17 will give growers real-life solutions.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “That disruption, however, needs to deliver on the bottom line.”

ONE17 crop science focus session

• The Microalgae Opportunity: What innovative uses do microalgae hold for the farm?
• Florida Fights Back: Under threat from citrus greening disease, learn how Florida’s citrus industry is deploying defenses to survive, from innovative microbial solutions to antibiotics for trees and beyond.
• New Ideas in Sustainability: Biofungicides, biostimulants, gene activators, induced resistance, living seed treatments: What do these innovations have to offer an industry that has come so far with synthetic chemicals?
• Organic Farming: Exploring the advantages of organic disruption, and how major retailers are becoming disruptors of demand in the supply chain.
• Our Biggest Little Allies: Find out how new discoveries could make microbes, our tiny partners, even more significant to our future and the health of plants, animals and people.
• Disruption in Washington: What can we expect from the new leadership landscape? How could the food chain and global trade be disrupted?

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

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to swine production. From topics covering nutrient delivery systems and remodeling pig barns to quantity versus quality efficiencies and global pork consumption, ONE17 will give pork producers real-life solutions.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “However, we also want to provide producers with practical and profitable solutions for their day-to-day business. The swine focus session will drive pork producers to think differently about how they operate.”

ONE17 swine focus session

• More Pigs, More Problems: Are more piglets sustainable? Where is the balance between quantity and quality?

• Antibiotic Regulations: What have we learned? The U.S. Veterinary Feed Directive has disrupted the pork industry this year. Can nutrition be the new front line of defense?

• Time to Remodel? What innovations can take your operation to the next level?

• Hydro Oasis: Could smart water and nutrient delivery systems simplify your operation or create complications?

• The Ultimate Pig Starter: How can simple new methods disrupt long-standing conventions and help us achieve better results?

• Why Not Disrupt? Could the United States meet China’s growing appetite for safe, traceable pork?

• Disruption in Washington: What can we expect from the new leadership landscape? How could the food chain and global trade be disrupted?

• The Biologist’s Toolbox: Precise gene editing technologies are the newest tool in the biologist’s toolbox, but are we pushing ethical limits?

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

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to poultry production. From topics covering in ovo techniques and the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification to the effects of backyard farming and consumer meat preferences, ONE17 will give poultry producers real-life solutions.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “For poultry producers, however, we understand that innovation must be practical and profitable. Our poultry focus session will facilitate open discussions about what’s ahead for the poultry industry and will drive the disruptive thinking that could determine long-term success.”

ONE17 poultry focus session

• In Ovo: Counting your chickens before they hatch? Could in ovo techniques be the next disruption in the poultry industry, and what benefits could they deliver to the consumer?
• Chickens by Design: What implications does CRISPR/Cas9 have for the world’s preferred protein?
• Slow-Grown Disruption: Is the slow-growth movement a disruption? Is it sustainable?
• Chickens and Eggs: Two growing markets have emerged: backyard farming and large-scale consolidation. What are the opportunities?
• Disruption in Washington: What can we expect from the new leadership landscape? How could the food chain and global trade be disrupted?
• The Biologist’s Toolbox: Precise gene editing technologies are the newest tool in the biologist’s toolbox, but are we pushing ethical limits?

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

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.