[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Alltech has released its annual Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align its business with its purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^®, reducing its environmental impact and advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Alltech is committed to prioritizing the efficient and profitable production of nutritious food while helping producers worldwide implement solutions to their sustainability and productivity challenges. The Alltech Sustainability Report highlights how Working Together for a Planet of Plenty shapes Alltech’s business — and its future.

“Everything we do is centered on helping us advance our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president for ESG at Alltech. “We have made great progress toward our ESG goals, but we know that there is always more work to be done. Alltech team members around the world have shown unwavering commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices. We continue to strive for ambitious ESG targets, find areas for improvement and innovation, and nurture a culture of sustainability.”

Guided by its Planet of Plenty purpose, Alltech is committed to:

• Delivering measurable impact via nutritional technologies and services that maximize producer profitability, production efficiency and sustainability.
• Connecting with global partners to solve high-impact issues and advance sustainable agricultural practices.
• Advocating for the agri-food industry, sharing the sustainable power of science in agri-food via its Planet of Plenty website and through projects like the upcoming documentary World Without Cows.
• Investing in education and research to address issues such as soil health, greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration, methane mitigation, antimicrobial resistance — and more.
• Sharpening its ESG strategy by continually reducing its environmental impact, prioritizing social responsibility and adopting governance practices that ensure transparency and accountability.

Through data and stories from Alltech team members around the world, the 2023 Alltech Sustainability Report emphasizes the role of agriculture in combatting climate change and creating healthy, sustainable food systems. It also includes information about Alltech’s emissions reduction goals and highlights its efforts to improve energy usage, reduce waste, and advance environmental actions in the industry. Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote a diverse and inclusive work environment and demonstrates its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

2023 highlights include:

• Alltech has reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 19.8% from its 2021 base year. It aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 (from its 2021 base year) and its Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030 (from its 2023 base year).
• Alltech completed 19 energy efficiency projects. It conducted 31 energy efficiency project feasibility studies and six renewable energy project feasibility studies. The company invested $3.85 million in efficiency projects in 2023, resulting in the reduction of 8,990 metric tons of CO₂e.
• Alltech completed 74 core product life-cycle analyses across its top seven specialty ingredients and 17 production facilities.
• Alltech was awarded three EcoVadis sustainability medals in 2023.
• Alltech Serdán was recertified in 2023 as Empresa Socialmente Responsible (ESR).
• Alltech was accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition for the third year in a row.
• Sixty team members participated in the Women in Food & Agriculture Mentorship Program.

“2023 was another milestone year for Alltech as we advanced our mission and vision of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “In the five years since it was launched at the Alltech ONE Conference in Kentucky, Planet of Plenty has become a strategic driver of our business and an accelerator of what is even more important: our impact. Through new partnerships and ongoing collaboration with trusted allies we’ve worked alongside for decades, we continue to drive progress toward our shared goal of a world of abundance for future generations.”

Alltech continues to serve as a voice for the industry, advancing agri-food innovation and highlighting agriculture’s role in nourishing the world and nurturing the planet. Through publications like the Alltech Sustainability Insights Report, the Alltech Sustainability Report, Agri-Food Outlook, Harvest Analysis, Import Risk Analysis and others, the company serves as an industry thought leader and helps to address some of the most pressing issues facing the agri-food community.

Alltech shares the sustainable power of science in agri-food through stories, podcasts, blogs and videos on its Planet of Plenty website. This year, Alltech is promoting Planet of Plenty’s first feature-length documentary, World Without Cows, a three-year exploration of the true impact of cattle on our world.

The film takes viewers to more than 40 locations around the world to hear insights from leading scientists, farmers, economists and other experts about the cultural and economic significance of cattle, their role in nourishing the world and their impact on climate. It aims to broaden the conversation about the role of cattle and to inspire deeper reflection about their role in the vitality of our planet. Learn more at worldwithoutcows.com.

For more information and to download the 2023 Alltech Sustainability Report in full, visit alltech.com/sustainability.

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] — Seven businesses are winners of the first Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp incentive grants that are designed to encourage ag-tech and food-based businesses to locate in Kentucky.

Bluegrass AgTech, which is cultivating an innovation ecosystem for entrepreneurs and startups in the agricultural sector, is a partnership among City of Lexington, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and Alltech.

“We want to become the international address of ag-tech businesses, and this is an exciting step forward,” said Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton.

Bluegrass AgTech announced its challenge grants program last November. Applications were received from more than 80 companies and seven were awarded this week.

Through the challenge grant program, Bluegrass AgTech is connecting agricultural innovators with both public and private funding sources and incentives, attracting new agri-food and agri-business companies to Kentucky, boosting the economy, and unlocking a more affordable, nutritious and environmentally sustainable food future for Kentucky and beyond.

“Agriculture plays a fundamental role in not only producing food, but also preserving the planet. Funding innovative ag-tech entrepreneurs is critical to achieving this mission – and to helping transform Kentucky into the agricultural technology capital of the United States, just as my father, Dr. Pearse Lyons, envisioned years ago,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, chair of the Bluegrass AgTech board of directors and president and CEO of Alltech, a global company focused on improving the health and performance of people, animals and plants through nutrition and scientific innovation. “These first seven challenge grant winners will help Bluegrass AgTech foster an innovation ecosystem in Kentucky, paving the way for the development of technologies that will be highly relevant to both our traditional agriculture sectors and those that will emerge in the future.”

Bob Helton, executive director of Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp, said the challenge grants provide incentive funding, valuable resources and promotional opportunities. Selected grant recipients will also be offered resource support, such as mentorship, referrals to professional services, connections to local growers and research teams, and other business development assistance.

Each applicant was able to apply for up to $100,000 of grant funding in this first year of the program. The seven grant recipients were awarded a combined total of $625,000. 

Applicants were required to provide a 100% match. The program was open to registered, for-profit businesses currently located in or willing to establish a presence in Lexington or Kentucky, with an emphasis on startups and early-stage businesses.

Lexington contributed $1 million to establish the grants and get the partnership started. The state also provided $1 million through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.

The winners include:

• HempWood, which utilizes biomimicry to transform hemp fibers and protein-based bonding agents into a viable substitute for solid oak.

• Iristrac, which provides horse owners with a painless, noninvasive method of identification and a web platform and database to store and access their horse’s IDs and other records.  The primary product of Iristrac is a patented equine iris scanner.
• Lepidext Inc., a company that discovers, develops and commercializes safe and effective bioinsecticides to control lepidopteran pests in food and fiber crops, leading to improvements in sustainable food production and a positive impact on environmental health parameters.
• Parasight System Inc., a company that has developed the world’s only push-button fecal egg count system for veterinary clinics.
• RedLeaf Biologics, a biotechnology that combines proprietary plant genetics and extraction processes to develop a range of phytochemical extracts with applications in health, cosmetics, wellness and nutrition.
• Spirited Biomaterials, which creates polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a scientifically proven fully biodegradable plastic substitute that can be used as a direct replacement for the look and feel of traditional petroleum-based plastics.
• Sunflower Fuels, which provides bio-based feedstocks to the power and refining industries. Its mission is to harness the untapped potential of people and land in rural areas to grow energy crops that will extract carbon from the air and power the U.S. economy.

Twenty-four journalists from 15 countries recently ventured to the south of Spain with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) to explore the agricultural operations that make that region unique. The crown jewel of the press trip was a visit to the Olivarera de Los Pedroches Cooperative, or Olipe, where organic olive oil producers are collaborating with Alltech Crop Science to make their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable.

Outstanding olive oil in the spotlight

Pozoblanco, Cordoba — where the Olipe cooperative is headquartered — was uncharacteristically gloomy during the IFAJ trip, but the journalists remained eager to learn about the olives grown in this mountainous region. Spain produces approximately 50% of the world’s olive oil, and this region is particularly well-known for its long tradition of olive oil production thanks to its climate and topography, which are perfect for olive cultivation.  

Representatives of the Olipe co-op were also proud to explain to the journalists that the olive oil produced in southern Spain features the highest level of polyphenols of any olive oil in the world. Since polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this outstanding characteristic has brought olive oil cooperatives like Olipe to the attention of major brands — including L’Oreal, which sources olive oil from the cooperative to be used in its cosmetic products.

Making positive change through a Planet of Plenty partnership

Francisco Gálvez, project manager for olive and almond farming for Alltech Crop Science (ACS) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, discusses the olives grown at the Olipe co-op, which is partnering with ACS to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of ag production.

While Olipe has already achieved great success, the region’s olive farmers want to improve their operations even more while remaining environmentally sustainable — and Alltech Crop Science intends to help them do just that.

Alltech Crop Science has established a Planet of Plenty partnership with Olipe to develop an ambitious five-year plan that includes soil analysis and research studying the process of growing olives in the Los Pedroches region. The results of those studies will allow Ideagro and Alltech Crop Science to formulate custom solutions for Olipe that will help enhance sustainable olive production in Spain.

The IFAJ cohort heard from Francisco Gálvez, project manager for olive and almond farming for Alltech Crop Science in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Liana Dobler, Alltech’s Spanish and Portuguese communications manager, who shared details about several of the other initiatives that will be explored through this partnership, including:

• the production of organic compost from mill waste
• utilizing olive pits in the manufacture of plastic-substitute products
• the validation of olive oil with a high oleocanthal content and a high polyphenol index

Notably, Alltech Crop Science has committed to covering all costs related to the monitoring and experimentation processes underway at Olipe through this partnership. Alltech Crop Science will also help distribute the olive oil produced through the co-op internationally. Olipe, on the other hand, will invest the profits that result from this project in training and educational activities that will help attract and keep olive farmers in the Los Pedroches region.  

Sharing the recipe for success

Throughout the IFAJ’s press trip to Olipe, the co-op’s olive farmers were excited to discuss how they’re working to make agricultural production more sustainable and more profitable — and the journalists in attendance are eager to help tell that story to the world.

“For the Olivarera Los Pedroches Cooperative, this type of visit serves as a platform to let everyone know about the incredible projects they are carrying out,” said Gálvez of Alltech Crop Science.  

“We all enjoyed the visit to cooperative,” said Lena Johansson, president of the IFAJ. “It’s always more interesting and useful for journalists to see things on-site than on PowerPoint slides.”

The journalists will continue sharing what they learned first-hand about olive oil production in southern Spain with readers across the globe — including those with no connection to agriculture, who will likely be fascinated to learn how olive farmers are contributing to economic, environmental and social sustainability. 

About the author:

Liana Dobler is Alltech’s Spanish and Portuguese Communications Manager globally. She is responsible for communications strategy, including content management and social media, for all Spanish and Portuguese stakeholders.
 
Liana has been with Alltech for 17 years, beginning as a sales assistant in Alltech Brazil. Her journey later led her to Alltech Argentina where she served in a regional capacity as Latin America Communications Manager. Liana relocated to Spain in 2022.

“Agriculture is a key opportunity and solution to the climate change issues we’re seeing today,” said Kevin Ogorzalek to the audience at Alltech ONE Dubai, the final stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour in 2023.

Ogorzalek is a partner and the sustainability supply chain leader at Concord Agriculture Partners, which works to build bridges between farmers and brands with the mission of achieving shared sustainability goals. Over the course of his career, he has gained extensive experience in the areas of sustainable production, land use, and carbon across global agri-commodities and in multiple sectors.

His closing plenary talk at Alltech ONE Dubai addressed how climate change is impacting agriculture, how governance and compliance are influencing the food sector, and how agri-businesses can benefit from taking actions to mitigate climate change risk through carbon market opportunities.

Key drivers of sustainability efforts for agri-business

In the past year alone, climate change has cost the U.S. $1 billion. Recent flooding and other extreme weather events have highlighted the urgency for agri-businesses to address climate-related risks.

Ogorzalek noted six key drivers of sustainability efforts for dairy and animal feed customers:

1. Supply chain consistency: The brittleness of food supply chains, which was particularly exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for greater resilience and consistency.
2. Brand reputation: Brands are increasingly concerned about protecting their reputations, recognizing that many consumers now expect greater transparency in supply chains.
3. Regulatory frameworks: Growing regulatory pressures, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, are pushing agri-businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
4. Investor ESG requirements: Shareholders today require ESG reporting from their major investments.
5. Talent retention: Sustainable performance, including environmental responsibility, is becoming a key factor in retaining top talent within agri-business.
6. Value creation: Collaborative efforts between brands and supply chain partners can lead to improved overall performance and value chain enhancements.

Climate change impacts and risks

In his presentation at ONE Dubai, Ogorzalek introduced the concept of planetary boundaries by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come (image 1). Crossing boundaries increases the risk of generating large-scale abrupt or irreversible environmental changes, according to the scientists who proposed the nine planetary boundaries.

Image 1: The 2023 update to the planetary boundaries

Source: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Richardson et al 2023

From a business perspective, there are risks to operations and supply chains, such as weakened production capacity, resource scarcity, new stakeholder demands, potential reduced demands for goods and services, and increased capital and operational costs.

“If we focus specifically on the planetary boundary of our climate, which will be addressed by the global community over the next several weeks, we can see that as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures are rising to all-time highs,” Ogorzalek said. “This year will be the hottest year ever recorded. And since 2014, eight of the hottest years ever recorded will have occurred.

“Now, these emissions are the result of the entire human enterprise. Often, one specific sector or another is singled out as being a contributor, but it’s going to take an entire collaborative approach as a global society to address these issues and bring our emissions down to net-zero by 2050,” he continued.

Acknowledging the severe drought in Brazil and Argentina and the resulting challenges in the animal feed sector, Ogorzalek outlined the interconnected risks, from water scarcity to reduced production capacity. He emphasized the need for agri-business to be proactive in managing these risks, especially by avoiding deforested areas when sourcing feed.

Global initiatives to reduce climate change impacts

Ogorzalek discussed global initiatives, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, and how they shape the commitments of the agri-business sector. The global commitment to ending deforestation and reducing methane emissions presents both challenges and opportunities for the dairy and animal feed industries.

“World leaders signed the Global Methane Pledge, which will reduce methane by 2030, a key opportunity for the dairy sector especially,” Ogorzalek said, adding that at COP28, “there will be specific discussions on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which is the overarching governing framework trading carbon credits.”

A map created by the World Bank in 2023 indicates that carbon markets are increasing in scope and scale, and also in regulations.

Carbon pricing dashboard | Up-to-date overview of carbon pricing initiatives

Summary map of regional, national and subnational carbon pricing initiatives

Carbon markets are trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought. Compliance markets are created as a result of any national, regional and/or international policy or regulatory requirement. Voluntary carbon markets – national and international – refer to the issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis.

International carbon markets can play a key role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively, according to the European Commission.

Many countries and jurisdictions are developing compliance carbon markets and levying taxes to bring down and contribute to each country’s individual, nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement.

In addition, the European Commission, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the California Air Resources Board will all have regulations requiring businesses that operate within their jurisdictions to report on emissions, both of their own operations and of their supply chains.

Voluntary carbon market opportunities for agri-business

Ogorzalek also delved into the evolving landscape of voluntary carbon markets, noting the increasing importance of carbon credits. He highlighted the voluntary carbon market’s potential for agri-businesses to play a significant role in reducing methane, citing examples of over 6,000 companies committing to ending deforestation and engaging in carbon offsetting.

“There is a variety of quality in the carbon markets. There is also a lack of supply,” Ogorzalek said. “The Wall Street Journal is projecting that by 2030, 2 gigatons of carbon credits will be needed. However, based on current business practices, there will be only 700 million tons available. A significant portion of this gap can be made up by agri-business.” 

Significant voluntary market activities are happening in the Middle East:

• UAE’s Blue Carbon has arranged memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to purchase carbon rights in forests.
• 16 Saudi firms purchased 2.2 million MT of CO2 credits in Nairobi in June 2023.
• Saudi Arabia will launch its Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism (GCOM) in 2024.
• ACX Ltd, based in Abu Dhabi, is the first fully regulated carbon exchange connected to the voluntary carbon market.

Ogorzalek outlined key opportunities for the dairy and animal feed sectors:

1. Efficiency and value creation: Driving efficiency in production while partnering with brands to improve environmental outcomes can create value for agri-businesses.
2. Transparency and innovation: Transparency in the supply chain, coupled with innovation in key areas such as feed sourcing, positions agri-businesses to be part of the solution.
3. Collaboration with banks and brands: Working with financial institutions and brands on pricing and financing solutions aligns with the growing demand for sustainable practices.
4. Feed additives for methane reduction: Addressing methane emissions, a global priority, through the use of feed additives offers a tangible way for the animal agri-business sector to contribute positively.

The call to action

Ogorzalek concluded by challenging regional leaders in the agri-business sector to adopt practices that not only feed the world affordably but also create value while operating within safe planetary boundaries. His presentation underscored the urgency of collectively addressing climate change, emphasizing that the actions taken today will shape the future of agriculture and the planet.

In essence, Ogorzalek’s insightful talk serves as a call for the agri-business sector to engage proactively in sustainable practices, leverage emerging opportunities, and play a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change on global food systems.

How are climate challenges shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s dairy industry? Join Andrew Oddy, herds director at Al Safi Danone, as he shares insights on the Ag Future podcast from #AlltechONE Dubai. With over four decades of expertise, Andrew delves into the region’s progress and how feed efficiency, renewable energy and artificial intelligence are playing a major role in the future of dairy sustainability and profitability.

The following is an edited transcript of the Ag Future podcast episode with Andrew Oddy hosted by Tom Martin. Click below to hear the full audio or listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.

Tom:                       I’m Tom Martin, and joining me from the United Arab Emirates at the Alltech ONE World Tour stop in Dubai is Andrew Oddy, whose impressive career spans nearly four decades working with some of the world’s largest dairy farms in the Middle East and Africa, co-authoring published papers on heat stress, cow comfort, and milking in collaboration with Kansas State University and Arizona State University in the U.S. Today, Andrew serves as the herds director for the farming operations of Al Safi Danone, a leading dairy brand that has become a household name in Saudi Arabia. Welcome to the podcast, Andrew. 

Andrew:                  Thank you very much.

Tom:                       Your extensive career in the dairy industry is truly remarkable. And considering that wealth of experience, could you give us an overview of the major changes that you’ve witnessed in herd management throughout your nearly four-decade career? 

Andrew:                  Well, it’s not just the herd management, it’s the whole aspect of Saudi Arabia, because when I came to Saudi Arabia first, it was 1982. And there were very little structures in Riyadh and especially Al Kharj. So the dairy industry in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia at that time, nobody really knew what the aspects were, what the challenges were, and it was a very steep learning curve that we went through to develop cow comfort to the extent that we have developed it now. And even now, we’re still learning new techniques, new ways of doing things. So it is a challenge all the time, and it’s a learning curve for everybody in the industry in the Gulf region at the present time.

Tom:                       As the dairy industry in the UAE experiences significant growth, what are some key differences in running a dairy operation in the UAE compared to more established dairy regions like the United States or Ireland? 

Andrew:                  The dairy industry only really started in the Middle East around the 1975 era. So dairy farming in the West, in the United States and Europe, has been developed for many hundred years. So we were learning really from Stage 1, the heat is a big factor for us in Saudi Arabia. And over the last three years, we have been experiencing high humidity due to the changing climate as well. And humidity is really a killer compared to the heat. The dry heat everybody can handle. But when you get dry heat and humidity with temperature THI of around about 90 to 100, then it is really hot. 

Tom:                       Well, with COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, now underway in Dubai, and the global push for emissions reduction outlined in the Paris Agreement, how has the dairy industry evolved to contribute to the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees?

Andrew:                  This year, we’ve experienced a 2°C increase in temperature over the June, July, August, September period. As I said, the dry heat is something we can cope with, but the dairy industry itself in the Middle East is moving to give a good carbon footprint reduction in the area. Like with Al Safi, we’re looking at biogas solutions. We’re looking at solar panels to reduce the use of fossil fuels. There are also ways that we’re looking at controlling the cows to reduce their emittance as well. So everybody is working really hard now in the dairy industry in the Middle East to achieve the goals that have been set upon us. I mean, I work for Al Safi Danone. Danone made a statement that in six years’ time, they want to reduce the carbon emissions by at least 30% in all their enterprises. 

Tom:                       These sustainability efforts vary across regions. What specific challenges do you encounter in your role at Al Safi Danone, and what technologies are being implemented to address these challenges in the pursuit of sustainability and efficiency as well? 

Andrew:                  All our cattle is genomically tested to find out exactly what the potentials are. There’s also a new test that is coming through on the genomics now where we can test through the tissues how much methane is going to be emitted from the cows and which are the superior cows which will emit waste methane, to come into the dairy herd and try and reduce this.

                               We’re using different technologies. There’s some feed now that is on the market which can give up to a 30% reduction in remittance as well. 

Tom:                       While sustainability is a crucial focus, profitability remains essential. Can you shed light on the role that feed efficiency plays in ensuring the profitability of dairy operations, considering the various sustainability practices in place?

Andrew:                  Over the last four years, we’ve reduced our feed wastage by nearly 4%. If you take the American average of 10%, we’re between 5% and 6% at the present time. And we still have a ways to go where we can reduce it more if the conditions are right.

Tom:                       Artificial intelligence is permeating various industries. How has AI found its way onto the dairy farm, and in what ways is it impacting or optimizing operations within Al Safi Danone?

Andrew:                  We have some new technology, which is, we’re the only dairy farm in the world outside the U.S. which is using this technology at the moment, which is a camera ID system. It used to be called Compass. Now it’s got a new name, Evergreen. And we have it set up in one unit, and it’s doing facial ID and number ID of the cattle that it’s monitoring. And this is a new way of looking at how management can improve and come and get the best out of this system. So this system at the moment is very new. It’s still in development, but it tells us the feeding times of the cows, when the operator will feed, when he pushes up the feed, if there is any empty space on the bunk that needs to have additional feed. This is all done through the camera system.

                               In the future, it will give us a lot more help on animal welfare and health. It will be able to monitor or inform us of cows, sick cows, cows that are going to calve. And the latest piece of technology coming out of this is that within 24 hours of the cow coming to estrus, we’ll have information, and we can nail that cow and get her in calf hopefully very quickly and improve our conception and fertility.

Tom:                       This sounds very interesting. Perhaps we can circle back around later in the year and find out how things have gone with this technology. 

Andrew:                  Yes, we can. No problem. 

Tom:                       Andrew Oddy, herds director at Al Safi Danone in Saudi Arabia. Thank you so much, Andrew. 

Andrew:                  You are welcome. Thank you. Take care. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is widely known for its petroleum reserves and the wealth they inject into the country’s economy — but even in an oil-dominated economy in a desert climate, agriculture plays a major role.

“Our region isn’t an agricultural powerhouse, but we have to build food systems to be able to be more resilient to ‘black-swan events,’” said Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi in a presentation at Alltech ONE Dubai — the most recent stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour — in late November.

His presentation explored the numerous ways the UAE is actively working to make its food and agriculture systems more sustainable, equitable and accessible. This topic was particularly relevant in light of the recent 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28, which was hosted by the UAE days after Alltech ONE Dubai.

“We are now in the spotlight,” Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi said. “This year, our legacy as the UAE is to bring food systems as a theme to COP.”

Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi is uniquely qualified to speak on the topics of food systems, agriculture and technology as the founding partner of Soma Mater, which promotes radical transparency across the food system in the UAE and works to facilitate conversations, empower the country’s producers, support sustainable importers and keep policymakers informed. Previously, he served in the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

“What we do is help companies like yourselves shorten the critical path to making changes,” he said to the producers and industry representatives in attendance.

Thanks to his impressive career, he has seen firsthand how the UAE is working to improve its food and agriculture sectors.

“We’re fortunate to have a government that’s so proactive,” he said. “The challenge here is: How do we scale [the initiatives] the government has led and, ultimately, how do we get the industry to support them?”

Change from the top down: Federal ag agencies in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates formed in 1971 when seven separate emirates, or states, came together as one federation. Its 10 million people, like all people, depend on properly working agri-food systems for their health and well-being, and the government promotes sustainability, accessibility and ag-tech at all levels. While each emirate has its own authorities and offices, the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment oversees agriculture as well, working to enhance food security while finding solutions to climate change.

“This is part of a 50-year legacy where food has been moving into a larger arena,” Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi added. “What we [at Soma Mater] have started doing is helping the industry be in the room with the policymakers.”

Sustainable food production in the UAE

Sustainability is a hot topic across the agriculture industry due to its impact on both the environment and on a production’s bottom line, and it promises to become even more important in the future.

“We’re going to have consumers that want to see sustainability in all their products,” said Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi. “And that’s a challenge for producers, for manufacturers, for processors. How do you communicate sustainability to the end user through your value chain?

“And have you started the work? Because in 10 or 20 years, there will be clients who will say, ‘I can’t really work with you because I can’t get the metrics I need to prove that sustainability to my customer. So, we’re going to either have to go with somebody else or you’re going to have to step up.’”

In line with its food security strategy, and as part of its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UAE is working to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. Both those in the government and on the ground know how imperative these efforts are for the future of the emirates and the planet.

“The industry is very organized [around this issue], and we’re trying to figure out how we get more efficient — not only for our bottom line but for the precious resources we work with in the natural world,” Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi said.  

One strategy being employed is the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative (ne’ma). Launched in 2022, this initiative encourages both public- and private-sector entities to promote responsible consumption.

“The ne’ma food waste initiative is a roadmap for the country on how we ensure that consumers are valuing what you are producing rather than buying it and throwing it away,” Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi said. “[This is] a step back from this hyper-commoditization of products [to ensure that] any waste finds its way back into the food system rather than a landfill.”

While these efforts are moving the needle within the UAE, collaboration across borders is imperative as well. At COP26, the emirates launched a joint initiative with the U.S., known as the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, or AIM. Through AIM, these two countries are addressing climate change and global hunger by boosting investments in climate-smart agriculture and food-systems innovation.

“AIM has [brought together] one of the largest ag producers in the world [the U.S.] and what, seemingly, is a small country with a very limited capability,” said Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi. “This program was a way to raise this issue to the world and to say, ‘The agriculture industry globally will look like this if we don’t tackle [these issues].’”

Making food security a reality — and a priority

Food safety is another important issue in the UAE, for both the government and the industry.

“More and more, this region has had food security pushed up in its [list of] priorities,” said Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi.

To address food security for all people, the UAE established the 1 Billion Meals initiative in 2020. Through this program, institutions, companies, entrepreneurs and individuals can donate meals to low-income families and other vulnerable groups around the world.

“The 1 Billion Meals initiative addresses waste so that this food that you’re all working so hard to produce doesn’t go into the landfill and does go to hungry mouths,” said Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi. “It’s also addressing a matter of distribution — making sure that people can get to the food and the food can get to them — as one of the major definitions for food security is really accessibility.”

The Food Security Alliance is essential as well, ensuring through strategic partnerships and foreign investments the continuity of commodity supplies during crises. It includes large agricultural producers, government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from both the UAE and elsewhere in the Middle East.

“The whole region can do a lot together; it doesn’t have to be country by country,” Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi said. “Ultimately, when you have enough players in the room together, that’s when you can create real impact. And the Food Security Alliance does this.”

Utilizing innovation and technology for the good of the people

Perhaps more so than any other country in the Middle East, the UAE is known as a center for innovation and technology; consider, for instance, the towering Burj Khalifa, an engineering feat admired the world over.

“Technology is a critical component of how we do business in this part of the world, and innovation is really the [biggest] opportunity here,” Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi said.

To capitalize on these strengths, the UAE is now home to several ag-tech and food parks, which “bring the brightest ideas and the industry together under one roof to research and innovate,” said Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi.

Some of the most notable ag-tech and food parks include:

• Dubai’s Food Tech Valley, an economic zone that unites the complete food and agriculture sectors.
• ADQ’s AgTech Park in Al Ain, an ecosystem that harnesses technology to create a controlled environment that advances the UAE’s ability to grow fresh foods year-round.
• Sharjah Food Park, a sector of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority that enables businesses to expand their food production, storage and packaging capacities.
• Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, which promotes research, technology and innovation in healthcare, energy, the environment, food security and technology.

Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi hopes that these parks will give more producers and technologists a space to collaborate on some of the country’s greatest challenges.

“It’s really up to the industry to step up and say, ‘I want to engage, I want to learn — and also, I have problems that need to be solved,’” he said. “We’ve learned in the industry that the researchers, the people who are innovating in-country, aren’t getting enough face-to-face time with the industry, and we’re looking to facilitate that more.”

In closing his presentation at Alltech ONE Dubai, Sheikh Dr. Al Qassimi acknowledged that while governments are actively working to address agriculture’s greatest challenges, the most impactful changes will be made by the people on the ground.

“Government bodies [may] deliver policy, but ultimately, if we don’t have the industry aligned with this, then this will just be a lot of wasted effort,” he said. “So, I’d leave you with this: If you’re here today, it means you want to learn. But if you meet after this, it means you’re ready to do the work.”

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] — Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition company, has been awarded a silver medal from EcoVadis — putting it in the top 25% of sustainable companies globally. The EcoVadis silver medal testifies to Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^TM and its commitment to prioritizing the efficient production of nutritious food while minimizing environmental impact, implementing environmentally and economically sustainable solutions, promoting fair labor practices and fostering ethical business conduct. 

Alltech has also earned the EcoVadis platinum medal for its production site in Springfield, Kentucky, USA, which puts it in the top 1% of the over 200,000 businesses assessed by EcoVadis. Alltech Coppens, which produces industrial feeds for the aquaculture sector, earned gold-medal status, putting it in the top 7% of sustainable companies globally.

“We are delighted to have received multiple EcoVadis medals, as an external endorsement of Alltech’s ongoing commitment to the journey that is sustainability,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech.

EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Backed by a powerful technology platform and a global team of domain experts, EcoVadis assesses companies on environmental, social and ethical performance in over 200 purchasing categories and 175 countries.

“At Alltech, we see opportunities in every challenge. We are dedicated to delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions to advance the health and performance of animals while also lowering their impact on the environment,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “These awards from EcoVadis recognize the actions we are taking to align our business with our Planet of Plenty purpose — working together to provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.”

Earlier this year, Alltech released its 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align the business with its commitments to the United Nations Global Compact, the U.N. Ten Principles and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

For more information, visit Alltech.com.

The Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world, resumed today in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. ONE Dubai welcomed international attendees to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry in the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

For the past 38 years, the Alltech ONE Conference has been held in Lexington, Kentucky, the home of Alltech’s global headquarters. In 2023, however, the company — a global leader in the field of agriculture — is bringing the conference to its partners, customers, suppliers and friends around the world, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE.

“As our customers and partners continue to face many challenges and uncertainties, we determined that 2023 would be dedicated to meeting them in their markets,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “This special edition of the ONE endeavors to deliver global expertise to locally relevant issues. In the midst of economic and political uncertainties that fuel regionalization, this ONE reflects the responsibility we have as a global company to be a connector of people and ideas, ever advancing our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

Alltech ONE Dubai features discussions led by local and international experts about the latest trends in sustainable agricultural, animal nutrition and business, including presentations from Dr. Lyons; Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech; Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi, founding partner at Soma Mater; and Gerald Kiernan, general manager of dairy farms, Emirates Food Industries (EFI).

In his opening remarks, Dr. Lyons welcomed delegates to Dubai to discuss agriculture’s role in saving the planet.

“Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and we are at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future,” he said. “Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet’s resources.”

Alltech recently released the results of the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, and McCarthy discussed those findings in further detail during her presentation.

“Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption yet remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system,” she said. “The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi focused on how the UAE is making food and agriculture systems more equitable, accessible and sustainable.

"For the National Farms Sustainability Initiative, it wasn’t enough to have our own farms start, but to ensure that we start with sustainability in mind,” he said. “Today, more than ever, consumers want to see sustainability in all their products, including their food.”

Kiernan spoke about Alltech’s and EFI’s recent Planet of Plenty™ partnership with National Dairy Farms and Masakin Dairy Farms, two prominent companies owned by EFI, to bring leading-edge carbon footprint benchmarking and methane-reducing technologies to the Middle East.

“With growing concerns about climate change, companies worldwide are under increasing pressure to adopt eco-conscious practices,” said Kiernan. “As industry leaders, National and Masakin recognize the importance of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and setting new sustainability benchmarks.”

Kiernan’s comments were echoed by Paul McVeigh, regional manager for Alltech in the Middle East.

“The solidification of many years of collaboration with EFI in a Planet of Plenty Partnership represents the goals of the wider global Alltech family,” said McVeigh. “This partnership illustrates what is possible in the Middle East region when companies join forces toward a single goal, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk while reducing their environmental footprint.”

As ONE Dubai continues, delegates will hear from industry experts on various topics, including ruminant and poultry sessions focused on mycotoxin management, calf nutrition, dairy farming waste management, egg quality and mineral management, as well as carbon policies.

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with international stops in 2024, uniting changemakers and thought leaders throughout the global ag value chain to explore opportunities for agriculture. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

World’s leaders to focus on food systems and agriculture at upcoming COP28 in Dubai

The role of food systems and agriculture in climate action is taking center stage at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, which kicks off Nov. 30 in Dubai.

COP convenes country leaders each year to discuss and coordinate global efforts to address climate change. Since COP21 in 2015, the conference has focused heavily on how to implement the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the rise in the Earth’s temperature and prevent the potentially disastrous effects of global warming.

This year, the organizers of COP28 have added a food-systems focus to the agenda, urging global governments to sign a declaration of intent to integrate food systems and agriculture into their national climate agendas. An initiative encouraging the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture has also been launched.

Farmers, ranchers and producers have been focused for many years on agriculture’s role in feeding the world and meeting its climate change goals. They recognize the vital importance of creating healthy, sustainable food systems, a goal that is disrupted by the climate crisis.

Indeed, agriculture stands at the forefront of solutions to nourish the world and nurture the planet.

Three things to know

• COP28, set for Nov. 30–Dec. 12 in Dubai, will explore a Food Systems and Agriculture agenda.

• It will call on global leaders to sign a declaration that aligns national food systems and agriculture strategies with climate efforts.

• Agriculture is vital to feeding the world and meeting its climate change goals. It has the capability to reduce its own emissions and capture and sequester emissions released by other industries

“There is no other industry that plays such a fundamental role in terms of not only producing food, but also preserving our planet,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “If we produce our food in the right way, we can deliver on some of those big objectives of having the right nutrition, of creating new economic opportunities, and protecting and renewing our natural resources.”

Climate change cannot be solved without agriculture, and agriculture cannot thrive without tackling climate change. We must meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.

The world needs the nourishment of protein-rich meat, milk, eggs and seafood and crops that are grown in healthy soil. At the same time, we must work to minimize any harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment. This can be accomplished by improving the health of animals and the soil, maximizing the quality of animal feed, increasing the efficiency of the farm and reinvesting in innovation.

The power of carbon sequestration

While agriculture currently contributes about a quarter of global GHG emissions, it possesses the unique capability to reduce its own emissions and capture and sequester emissions released by other industries. This makes agriculture a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

A study published in PLOS Climate earlier this year suggested that agriculture could be carbon-negative by 2050. Advancements in agricultural technology and management have the potential to not only slow down the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the global food system but actually achieve net negative emissions, the study’s authors said.

“Our study recognizes the food system as one of the most powerful weapons in the battle against global climate change,” said co-lead author Professor Benjamin Houlton, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. “We need to move beyond silver-bullet thinking and rapidly test, verify and scale local solutions by leveraging market-based incentives.”

Focusing on soil health, leading-edge nutrition and pasture management practices, and the use of climate-smart technologies will allow the agriculture industry to capture more carbon each year.

Alltech has been studying the agriculture industry’s ability to sequester carbon through a research alliance based at the 10,000-acre Buck Island Ranch in Lake Placid, Florida. The alliance brings together Alltech’s scientists with ecologists and agriculture experts to understand the impact cattle production has on an ecosystem.

Researchers at Buck Island have learned that grazing ruminant animals on land actually benefits the environment and improves carbon cycling, which refers to the movement of carbon through various reservoirs on Earth — the atmosphere, soil and water, for example. The team is measuring the carbon emissions of beef production and evaluating the effects of pasture management, grazing strategies, mineral supplementation and other nutritional strategies.

The results have confirmed that carbon-neutral — and even net-positive — beef production is possible at Buck Island, and that same potential likely extends to other environments around the world.

“What Buck Island shows us is that with animals on the land, we capture more carbon than without them,” said Dr. Lyons. “That is profoundly powerful.”

Agricultural technologies and practices required to increase carbon capture could be “regionally down-scaled according to local culture, economics, technology readiness and agricultural management capacities,” the PLOS Climate study concluded. “This makes agriculture a unique economic sector and reiterates that it should be a key focus when discussing climate targets.”

The potential to capture carbon in the soil presents a significant opportunity for the agri-food community to embrace our critical role in combatting climate change while simultaneously improving soil health, boosting crop yields and promoting biodiversity.

“The biggest carbon sink that we can have is our land,” Dr. Lyons said. “Agriculture is the answer.”

Agri-food leaders around the world believe the industry can work together to create a better, more sustainable food system, according to the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, released today.

Alltech conducted a global, industry-wide survey to gather insights on the issues that matter most to the agri-food value chain and its stakeholders. In collaboration with Opinions, an independent research agency based in Ireland, Alltech collected insights through 26 interviews with industry leaders and via a comprehensive survey completed by more than 2,500 members of the agri-food industry. This effort presented an exciting opportunity to quantify attitudes and perceptions about sustainability from stakeholders across the agri-food value chain and identify tangible actions to build a more sustainable future.

“Our goal was to listen to the voices of our industry and its stakeholders and develop a robust, future-facing program of insights that are relevant, ambitious and genuinely impactful,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech. “Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption, yet it remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system. The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

The survey questions were focused on five areas: challenges and opportunities; drivers and priorities; attitudes toward change; support and guidance; and who they believe is going to pay for sustainability. The key findings of the survey include:

• While four out of five respondents agree that “climate change will make food production much more difficult in the future,” perspectives differ across the regions. A very real series of crises faces the agri-food industry and, for the most part, survey respondents acknowledged the gravity of those challenges and the fragility of our food system. There is a strong level of optimism and positivity however, with 85% of respondents agreeing that the food system can rise to the challenge.
   
• Almost three in four respondents reported feeling that a lot more guidance is needed to support their improvements in environmental sustainability. The need for guidance is expressed most strongly at the latter end of the value chain (e.g., retailers, food-service operators and manufacturers).
   
• Most respondents agree that regulation is putting pressure on all areas of the supply chain. Respondents were similarly realistic about the need for support for the primary producers of the food that the 8 billion people on this planet eat: 66% agree that until the farmer is incentivized financially, things will never change.
   
• Many recognize that we will not be able to resolve the challenges ahead without a huge degree of innovation and harnessing technology to enable us to feed ourselves sustainably, with 92% of respondents believing that technology and innovation are key to more sustainable food systems.
   
• There is a near-universal recognition that we need a collaborative conversation and effort across the value chain, with 93% of respondents agreeing that we all must work together to create a better food system for the future.

“Our industry is navigating extraordinary times, but the opportunities for positive impact are even more unprecedented,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Imagine what is possible when we all work toward the shared goals of providing nutrition for all, revitalizing local economies and replenishing the planet’s natural resources.”

For more information and survey results, visit alltech.com/sustainability-insights.