Opening day of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference celebrates the transformative power of ideas and a man who revolutionized the ag industry, Dr. Pearse Lyons

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – True to its name, ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018 kicked off by showcasing some of today’s most innovative ideas, all the way from the gene level  to disruptive changes to the future of food and how we produce it. Often described as a nexus of global agriculture and the premier business conference in the region, the day’s thought-provoking presentations firmly established ONE18 as the birthplace of life-changing ideas.

Bill Northey, under secretary at the United States Department of Agriculture, explored how government can do its part to help American agriculture adapt to a rapidly changing industry and feed the world. One critical component, he said, is for the USDA and farmers to be partners in innovation.

“We must understand our customers,” he said. “We must meet them where they are, with what they need, how they need it. Over time, customer needs change. We have to adapt.”

He also emphasized staying relevant by utilizing the latest technology, including social media, and asking important questions about regulations.

“We intend to listen, we intend to change in a way that supports you all,” said Northey.

Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, CRISPR expert and professor at North Carolina State University, discussed the potential for the controversial gene-editing technology to revolutionize food production and agriculture.

“In my opinion, CRISPR might be the one technology that is disruptive, innovative, transformative enough to change and define the genesis of the next generation of products across the food and ag industry,” said Barrangou.

Not only is this technology changing his life as a research scientist, he said, but also as a patient and a parent. This “molecular scalpel that cuts DNA” has the potential to edit, alter and rewrite DNA with unprecedented ease and accessibility to create new gene therapies, synthetic organs and natural vaccines. It even has the potential to create programmable antibiotics that selectively kill agents responsible for disease, such as Salmonella.

“Scientifically, the CRISPR phase is unprecedented,” he said. “We went from nothing, to a paper a month, to a paper a week, to a paper a day, to an average of 10 new CRISPR studies published every day in 2018.”

Despite the recent fervor about CRISPR in the media, however, he said that with this new power comes great responsibility, and stewardship in the agriculture world is critical. He believes the real revolution is happening in the boardrooms of companies that are harnessing this technology.

“This big idea is becoming a reality,” he said. “And this big idea is going to save the planet.”

Dr. Majid Fotuhi, neurologist and neuroscientist, shared his incredible story of growing up as a young man with a thirst for knowledge. An expert in the field of memory, Alzheimer’s disease, concussion, ADHD and increasing brain vitality in later life, he detailed how his journey to Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University has empowered him to teach others how to take better care of their brains.

“You are in control,” he said. “You need to take responsibility for whether or not your brain is healthy.”

In particular, he said having a purpose-driven life and feeling passionate about your goals can lead to a healthier brain.

“Having a purpose in life can have an impact on your brain,” said Fotuhi. “If you are someone who feels passionate about your goals, if you have a purpose-driven life, your brain is healthier.”

Dr. Mark Lyons, president of Alltech, took the conversation a step further, reflecting on the value of an idea and its potential to impact the future of our businesses, lives and even the planet. To achieve such innovative change, he said, it takes leaders with the ability to see what others cannot, something both Leonardo da Vinci and Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech’s late founder, had in common.

“He and Dad ‘happened to things,’ as Dad put it,” he said. “And that thing was called ‘life.’ Sometimes life happens to us. These two individuals seemed to impact life as much as it impacted them.”

That is why, for the first time in the conference’s history, Alltech bestowed a double award recognizing Alltech’s founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons.

“He was constantly encouraging us to be the best we could be for those around us so that they could flourish and become the best they could be,” said Mark, reflecting on Dr. Lyons’ goal that Alltech should be built on passion, excellence and fun. “He wanted them to live with those values he had, and that excellence, something that he and my mother shared — maybe she even more so.”

The Alltech Medal of Excellence, Alltech’s highest distinction, was awarded to Dr. Lyons for his work as a visionary scientist. As an entrepreneur and a tireless innovator, Dr. Lyons utilized his scientific expertise in yeast fermentation and his acute business sense to revolutionize the animal feed industry through the introduction of natural ingredients to animal feed. In the past 10 years alone, his scientific achievements have been listed in more than 300 patents.

Additionally, he was recognized with the Alltech Humanitarian Award for having a boundless philanthropic spirit. The award is bestowed annually to someone of strong character who uses their platform to positively influence and inspire those around them. For Dr. Lyons and Mrs. Deirdre Lyons, making a difference in the world by empowering others has been an everyday reality of their personal and professional lives.

“We cannot replace Dr. Pearse Lyons, nobody can,” said Mark. “But if we start to think like him, if we can get 10 people, 100 people, 1,000 people thinking like him, imagine what we can achieve together.”

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference runs through May 22, 2018, and is welcoming nearly 4,000 attendees from 76 countries in its 34th year. To learn more about ONE18 and follow live updates, visit one.alltech.com.

First time a Kentucky brewery takes home the overall grand prize for its beer Dark Charge Barrel Aged Molé

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Over 5,000 craft beer aficionados attended the fifth annual Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest on May 19, 2018, at the Lexington Convention Center. The festival featured over 60 breweries from across the country as well as 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 based on Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines. At the end of the day, and the bottom of the glass, the Commonwealth Cup was awarded to Barrel Aged Molé brewed by Braxton Brewing Company from Covington, Kentucky.

The Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest was started five years ago by the late founder of Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons, to celebrate craft beer, something about which he was particularly passionate. In fact, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® from Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., which Dr. Lyons founded in 1999, is regarded as one of the forerunners of the bourbon-barrel aging trend in craft beer.

“Dr. Lyons was always a champion of craft brewing, long before it came into the mainstream,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president of Alltech, toasting the memory of his father.“

He was passionate about developing the craft brewing and distilling market in Kentucky, training a generation of brewers and distillers and investing in events like today’s festival that give us a little taste of what he loved.”

The Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest marked the beginning of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), held May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky. The event includes a breakout session on brewing and distilling. 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.

USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey and nationally recognized neurologist Dr. Majid Fotuhi join ONE18’s all-star list of speakers

Register at one.alltech.com for the May 20–22 conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Former vice chair of General Electric Beth Comstock, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Bill Northey and groundbreaking neurologist Dr. Majid Fotuhi have been added to ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18)’s high-impact mainstage lineup of speakers. Four thousand attendees from more than 70 countries are expected to attend this year’s 34th annual conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, from May 20–22.

Twice named one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes, Comstock was the first woman to serve as a vice chair at GE. Over nearly two decades, she led efforts to accelerate new growth and innovation, helping to transform a process-heavy, top-down culture to a faster, agile and inventive one.

Comstock initiated GE’s digital and clean energy transformations, developed new businesses, increased GE’s brand value and sales, and partnered to enhance its inventive culture. She led the creation of Current, an intelligent environments business, GE Ventures Licensing, FastWorks, ecomagination and healthymagination, and oversaw GE Lighting. She was responsible for the sales, marketing and communications functions and served as the company’s first chief marketing officer in 20 years.

As president of integrated media at NBCUniversal, Comstock oversaw ad revenue and the company’s digital efforts, including early development of hulu.com. She held a succession of marketing and communications roles at GE, NBC, CBS and Turner Broadcasting/CNN.

Having recently stepped down from her position as vice chair of General Electric (GE), she is now exploring a path as an author, instigator and connector.

Her first book, "Imagine It Forward," offering lessons from a life of continual transformation, will be published Sept. 2018. She is currently a director at Nike and a trustee of the National Geographic Society.

Comstock replaces Jack Welch, who has cancelled his engagements due to an injury.

As under secretary of the USDA, Northey leads the Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area, which includes oversight of the National Resources Conservation Service, the Risk Management Agency and the Farm Service Agency. Northey was formerly the Iowa secretary of agriculture from 2006 to 2018.

A fourth-generation farmer, Northey has also served as president and chairman of the National Corn Growers Association and president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

A Harvard- and Johns Hopkins-trained neurologist and neuroscientist, Fotuhi is widely regarded as an authority in the field of memory, Alzheimer’s disease, concussion, ADHD and increasing brain vitality in late life. He has had numerous publications in major peer-reviewed journals, which have been cited by thousands of scientists around the world. National media such as The Washington Post, CNN, ABC and the "Today" show have interviewed him about his research and innovative “Brain Fitness Program.” Fotuhi is also the author of three books, including the recently released "Boost Your Brain: The New Art and Science Behind Enhanced Brain Performance."

Fotuhi has 25 years of teaching, clinical work and neuroscience research experience at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University. He is currently the medical director of NeuroGrow Brain Fitness Center, an affiliate staff member at Johns Hopkins Medicine and a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, where he is one of the most popular

instructors due in part to the two 5-foot-tall brain models he designed for his students in neuroanatomy classes.

Also featured on ONE18’s mainstage will be Dr. Robert Wolcott and Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou.

Wolcott is the author of "Grow from Within: Mastering Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation" and is a clinical professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He won Teacher of the Year from Kellogg’s EMBA program in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017. He is also a managing partner with Clareo, a foresight and growth strategy consultancy serving global corporations.

Wolcott is a regular contributor to Forbes on the impact of technology on business, society and humanity. His work appears in MIT Sloan Management Review, strategy+business, the Harvard Business Review (online), The Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, Businessweek, the Financial Times (European Edition), The New York Times and numerous overseas publications. He is an angel investor, and he currently serves on advisory boards for ZF, a $40 billion German automotive supplier, and H-Farm, the leading technology ecosystem in Italy.

Barrangou is the T. R. Klaenhammer Distinguished Scholar in Probiotics Research in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University, where his work focuses on the evolution and function of CRISPR-Cas systems and their applications in food manufacturing.

Recently, he received the 2016 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize, the 2016 Canada Gairdner International Award, the 2017 NAS Award in Molecular Biology and the 2018 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences. He is also the former chairman of the board of directors of Caribou Biosciences, a co-founder and member of the scientific advisory board of Intellia Therapeutics, and a co-founder and chairman of the scientific advisory board of Locus Biosciences.

The transformative power of ideas is the underlying focus of over 100 topics slated for discussion at ONE18. Twelve sessions, covering all major agriculture sectors, as well as business, health and wellness, and brewing and distilling will set the stage for an epic exchange of ideas between thought leaders and knowledge seekers.

ONE18 extends beyond an all-star speaker lineup and thought-provoking content to an experience that engages all the senses; the entertainment, including the world’s largest harp, will leave attendees breathless. They will also tour the Bluegrass, enjoy first-class cuisine in the city that Zagat named one of the “30 Most Exciting Food Cities in America in 2017” and dance the night away at the Alltech Arena at the world-famous Kentucky Horse Park.

Learn more and register at one.alltech.com. Join the conversation with #ONE18 on Twitter, and follow the ONE18 Facebook event page for updates. ONE18 is approved for 16 CEUs by the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and ONE18 is registered with the Kentucky Department of Education as a program available for professional development credit hours.

WHAT:            The Alltech Idea Pub: News & Brews series continues with an exciting exploration of Kentucky’s potential to become the next Silicon Valley. Dr.  Mark Lyons, president of Alltech, will lead a discussion on recruiting top talent to the region, shining a global spotlight on Lexington and becoming a nexus for innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly within food and ag tech. How can we each be ambassadors for the state? Can Lexington lead the way into an exciting new era of prosperity? Join us for thought-provoking conversation, light bites and Kentucky Ale^® for guests ages 21 and older. The event is free and open to the public.

WHEN:            Wednesday, May 2, 2018

                        6:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE:         Shrewsbury Hall at Town Branch Distillery

                        401 Cross Street

                        Lexington, KY 40508

MORE:            The Alltech Idea Pub: News & Brews series is a monthly discussion exploring business, economics, education and health, with a Kentucky twist. To RSVP, visit https://go.alltech.com/newsandbrews or the Alltech News & Brews Facebook event page.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Ten Kentucky universities demonstrated the state’s robust culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Alltech Innovation Competition 2018. Teams presented a broad range of unique business concepts that explored complex technologies, consumer trends and eco-friendly solutions.

Murray State University’s undergraduate team and the University of Louisville’s graduate team took home the top prize of $10,000 apiece, the same amount with which the late Dr. Pearse Lyons founded Alltech, now a multi-billion-dollar company with business in more than 120 countries.

“We saw thirteen innovative ideas today,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, vice president and chief scientific officer at Alltech. “These talented teams demonstrate the opportunity to develop and retain entrepreneurs right here in Kentucky — an idea that Dr. Lyons sought to promote with this program.”   

The Murray State University undergraduate team, including students Aaron Stevens, Blakely Broder and Jordan Young, and their advisor Steve Dublin, secured the undergraduate first place prize with their venture Pip&Dip. With the use of 3D printing technology, the team developed a finger brace that optimizes efficiency and reduces discomfort for those with a sports or work-related injury or natural deformity.

“To me, innovation means benefiting all of mankind, not just yourself,” said Stevens.

The University of Louisville graduate team, including students JD Mitchell and Eric Wentworth, and their advisor Suzanne Bergmeister, secured the graduate first place prize with their venture Mindful Mix. The team developed all-natural cocktail mixers infused with superfoods and fortified with vitamins and electrolytes.

“This has been an amazing experience,” said Mitchell. “Winning validates our idea, but the feedback we received from judges and the conversations we’ve had with other teams today are invaluable.”

This year’s competition hosted the largest group of participants in its six-year history. The two winning teams faced competition from Bellarmine University, Berea College, Georgetown College, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Pikeville and Western Kentucky University.

“Today’s presentations showcase the high level of education and talent in Kentucky,” said Suniti Mujumdar, manager of educational engagement at Alltech. “These students represent the next generation of innovative entrepreneurship and have the capacity to be stewards of change for the Commonwealth.”  

First held in 2013, the competition has traditionally featured entries that focus on animal nutrition, food, crop science, or brewing and distilling — Alltech’s business sectors. This year’s competition welcomed a broad array of venture ideas, reflecting the spirit of the company’s flagship international conference ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, which features the theme “ideas change everything.”

-Ends-

The University of Louisville graduate team, including students JD Mitchell and Eric Wentworth, won the graduate first place prize at the Alltech Innovation Competition 2018 with their venture Mindful Mix. 

Download image here.

The Murray State University undergraduate team, including students Aaron Stevens, Blakely Broder and Jordan Young, won the undergraduate first place prize at the Alltech Innovation Competition with their venture Pip&Dip.

Download image here.

To view and download additional images, click here.

Media contact: Lauren Dozier

press@alltech.com; 859-351-8892

WHAT: “Racing to the Future: Using Genomics to Improve Horse Health” will reveal the latest findings in groundbreaking research that studies the genetic traits driving horse health and performance. The discussion will explore how genomic research offers a better understanding of breeds, disease resistance and treatment. Equestrians, scientists and the merely curious are invited to gain a better understanding of the equine genetics field. The lecture is free and open to the public.

WHO: Dr. Samantha Brooks, noted equine researcher, headlines this exploration of the use of genomics tools to improve horse health. Brooks currently serves as assistant professor of equine physiology in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, and she previously oversaw the equine biology and management course at Cornell University. A lifelong horse enthusiast, Brooks followed her passion into equine research. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural biotechnology from the University of Kentucky, she remained at UK to study at the Gluck Equine Research Center and earned a Ph.D. in veterinary science.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Mitchell Fine Arts Center, Transylvania University

MORE: This event is part of Down to a Science, a lecture series presented by Alltech and Transylvania University. The collaboration aims to make science accessible and relatable for everyone, promoting a scientific dialogue within the local community. For more information, contact Julie Martinez at jmartinez@transy.edu or (859) 281-3617. Follow the event page on Facebook.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – McCauley’s, Alltech and the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ) are pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 McCauley’s Alltech ‘A+’ Awards for outstanding coverage of international equestrian sport.

The ‘A+’ Journalism Awards were established in 2010 by Alltech, in collaboration with the IAEJ, to reward creativity, passion and excellence in equestrian journalism. Initially the focus of the awards program was coverage of the 2010 and 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The theme for the 2017 contest was “Partnership.”

The winners of the 2017 McCauley’s Alltech ‘A+’ Award are:

PHOTO: Shannon Brinkman, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., for her photo of Laura Graves and Verdades, published in The Chronicle of the Horse, July 22, 2017.

• Jennifer Bryant received an honorable mention for her photo of para rider Katie Jackson and Royal Dancer.

ARTICLE: Suzy Jarratt, Arcadia, New South Wales, Australia, for the article "The Unusual Benefit of Horses", first published in Equestrian News & Lifestyle, December 2017.

BROADCAST: Jenni Autry, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, U.S., for "It's The World's Biggest CCI3 Boekelo Preview Show", broadcast on EventingPodcast.com on October 2, 2017.

Each of the winners receives a McCauley’s Alltech ‘A+’ Award trophy and a $500 (U.S.) prize.

The highly competitive contest, which attracted entries from around the world, was judged by Grania Willis, FEI communications director; Alan Smith, former Daily Telegraph equestrian correspondent, and long-time Horse & Hound photographer and Silver Camera award winner, Trevor Meeks. The judges deliberated without knowing the names of the contestants.

“It is a delight to continue to honor the creative storytellers within the equestrian world,” said Susanna Elliott, head of communications at Alltech. “They captivate us with their words, mesmerize us with their photos and draw us into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the horse.”

“The IAEJ is extremely grateful to Alltech and McCauley’s for their continued recognition of the media and its contribution to equestrian sport,” said Pamela Young, IAEJ president. “The photo category was particularly hard fought this year with Jennifer Bryant’s photo of para rider Katie Jackson and Royal Dancer deserving of an honorable mention.”

Winners of the Alltech Young Scientist program to be awarded at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18).

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — In a few short weeks, agriscience students from colleges and universities around the world will compete at the highest level for the chance to be rewarded for their innovative research. The global regional finalists have been selected for the 2018 Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, the world’s largest agriscience competition for university students. Now in its 13^th year, the program’s pool of nominees represents 83 universities from 28 countries.

The regional finalists will attend AYS Discovery Week, held in conjunction with ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky, to present their research to a panel of international judges. They will also have leadership building, career mentorship and networking opportunities. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position for the global undergraduate winner as well as $5,000 USD, and a fully funded postdoctoral position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner. 

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

• Zili Gao, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
  • “The heat shock cognate 70 protein is a novel target of nobiletin and its colonic metabolites in inhibiting colon carcinogenesis”
• Saheed Salami, University of Catania, Italy; currently attending University College Cork, Ireland  
  • “Cardoon meal as a novel feed: effect on lamb performance, rumen function and meat quality”
• Yanli Liu, Northwest A&F University, China
  • “Metabolomics and proteomics reveal impacts of folic acid on lipid metabolism in chicken primary hepatocytes (Folic acid regulates lipid metabolism mediated by IGF2)”
• Moisés Poli, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • “Pacific white shrimp and Nile tilapia integration in biofloc system under different fish-stocking densities”

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

• Ronald Trotta, University of Kentucky, United States; currently attending North Dakota State University, United States
  • “Effects of source and level of dietary energy supplementation on fiber digestion and in vitro methane production from tall fescue-based diets”
• Evgeny Remizov, Saratov State Agrarian University, Russia
  • “Antimicrobial peptides as a base of development of new antimicrobial medication”
• Shenfei Long, China Agricultural University, China
  • “Dietary supplementation with DHA-enriched microalgae improves performance, serum composition, carcass trait, antioxidant status and fatty acid profile of broilers”
• Juan Bol, Universidad EARTH, Costa Rica 
  • “Evaluation of induced resistant products to improve root health and control of plant parasitic nematodes in commercial banana plantation”

“The Alltech Young Scientist program provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the best and brightest minds of the next generation of agriculture science leaders,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, vice president and chief scientific officer at Alltech. "The regional finalists will present their research to a global audience, and the undergraduate and graduate competition winners will have the opportunity to join our global team."the opportunity to join our global team.”

For more information about the Alltech Young Scientist program, visit AlltechYoungScientist.com and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.

[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre, located in Dunboyne, County Meath, has been nominated for a US-Ireland Research Innovation Award. The centre has been nominated in the Multinational Corporation Category for research on how reduced diversity among intestinal gut microbes can affect animal health and can lead to the overgrowth of pathogens and the development of resistance. It also examines how increasing gut microbial diversity through nutrition and diet can aid in the control of these issues with the aim of reducing reliance on antibiotics.

Now in its fourth year, the awards are a joint initiative between the Royal Irish Academy and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland and are aimed at recognising excellence in research innovation, creation and invention by an organisation as a result of U.S. foreign direct investment in Ireland. The winners will be announced on 18 May at the Chamber’s annual dinner, which will also welcome Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys.

Dr. Richard Murphy, research director at the Alltech European Bioscience Centre, said the nomination was a fantastic achievement for the research team.

“At Alltech, we strive for success,” said Murphy. “Our innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies deliver real results for our customers and farmers, and so this award is a tremendous achievement for us as a research team. We are delighted to be nominated for a US-Ireland Research Innovation Award. This is a true testament to the hard work our team in Dunboyne put into researching innovative farming solutions.”

Alltech Ireland has long been a leader in both the Irish and European agriculture industry. Located in Dunboyne, County Meath, it became the first Alltech office to be established in mainland Europe in 1981 and today serves as Alltech’s European headquarters and bioscience centre.

Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre is Alltech’s pivotal research centre in Europe. The research work carried out at the centre specialises in cellular biotechnology, and the team of 20 scientists based in Dunboyne have developed unique insights into specific focus areas such as yeast cell wall architecture, trace element chelation, biomarker detection and microbial population dynamics. This work has resulted in the development of new solutions, services and analytical tools that improve producer profitability and efficiency.

“We have approximately 20 full-time scientists on-site in Dunboyne,” said Murphy. “We are very proud of our highly educated team and close links with Irish universities. The majority of the team have earned their Ph.D. or master’s degree with Alltech.

“Since redevelopment work on the facility was completed in 2013, the team at Alltech are very lucky to work in labs of exceptional quality and standard, thanks to Mrs. Deirdre Lyons, Alltech’s director of corporate image and design, who is responsible for designing our labs,” he continued. “This enables us to provide a state-of-the-art platform that enables young scientists to work with Alltech's expert team of biochemists, microbiologists and nutritionists.” 

Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre is one of the company’s three major bioscience centres around the world, with each centre having its own innovative focus. The centres are complemented by more than 20 research alliances with leading universities around the world. Alltech’s research team are also responsible for over 500 patents awarded to Alltech globally.

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] – It is with great sadness that Alltech announces the passing of its founder and president, Dr. Pearse Lyons. Lyons died on Thursday, March 8, due to an acute lung condition that developed during his recovery from heart surgery. He was 73.

“The thoughts of our entire Alltech family around the world are with Dr. Lyons’ family, specifically his wife Deirdre, daughter Aoife, son Mark and Mark’s wife Holly,” said Alric Blake, CEO and treasurer of Alltech.

“Dr. Lyons was a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the agriculture industry beginning with his innovative application of yeast technology in animal nutrition. From farm to field, from market to family dinner table, our world is immeasurably better because he was a man who never saw problems, only a challenge that had not yet been solved.

“He inspired everyone he met with his energy, enthusiasm and passionate belief in possibilities. He instilled that positivity in his people, more than 5,000 Alltech team members around the world. I am confident I speak on behalf of all of them when I say that we are deeply honored to have known and worked for such a great man. We will resolve to honor his legacy by deepening our commitment to his customers and all the innovative ideas he believed in so strongly.”

To continue driving forward his vision for serving the agriculture industry through field-proven innovations, Dr. Lyons established a clear leadership structure, including:

• Dr. Mark Pearse Lyons, Chairman and President
• Alric A. Blake, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer
• E. Michael Castle II, Vice President and Secretary

As the company’s director of corporate image and design, Mrs. Deirdre Lyons will continue to further Dr. Lyons’ vision for Alltech’s global presence and their shared commitment to philanthropy and community involvement.

 “We are all deeply saddened by my father’s passing,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, Pearse’s son and chairman and president of Alltech. “He always focused on developing people, and he built an extraordinary team over the years. I know he had full confidence in his team to continue growing the company he built.

“He saw farther into the horizon than anyone in the industry, and we, as his team, are committed to delivering on the future he envisioned. He planted seeds that will produce a bountiful harvest for the world in the years to come.”

Dr. Lyons’ family are deeply appreciative of the many prayers and well wishes they have received from friends around the world. At this time, they kindly ask that any expressions of sympathy, including memories and tributes, be shared at alltech.com/pearselyons.

In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to the Alltech ACE Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that funds a variety of philanthropic endeavours around the world from disaster relief to primary schools in Haiti. Donations may be made at alltech.com/pearselyons.

Funeral masses will be in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, on March 17 and in Dublin, Ireland, in April. A special celebration of life will be held on May 20 at the beginning of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington.

Public visitation in Lexington will be on Friday, March 16. Arrangement details will be kept up to date on alltech.com/pearselyons.