Source:  Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech, 2/15/11
 

What a world we live in today! As an agricultural industry, we are faced with increases in corn and soya prices and a rising global population to feed, all while trying to find solutions to minimize pollution and maximize traceability. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve our problems, we need to embrace these global challenges together.

This call to action was the theme of Alltech’s 2011 North American Lecture Tour. Speakers on the 21-stop tour, which took place from January 8 - 28, explored how agriculture and the animal production industry can find a balance for production of sustainable food, energy and resources while satisfying consumer demands.

By 2050, it is estimated that the global population will have grown to 9.3 billion people. Ninety-five percent of this boost in numbers will come from less developed countries. These people will need to be fed.  

With this estimate, we must recognize that our traditional sources of feed- corn, soya, etc. will be all used up for food and energy. We will only be successful if we use resources more efficiently-grains, fiber, nitrogen, and protein, and take advantage of technology such as solid state fermentation technology (SSF). Just as termites break down wood, SSF will help to break down fiber so our animals will still be able to eat when our feed supply is gone.

Technology has also allowed us to address greenhouse gases. One of Alltech’s latest platforms is our new 1.5 million liter capacity algae factory. Algae are some of the fastest growing plants in nature and have the ability to convert large amounts of carbon dioxide into oxygen. The facility will allow for continued work with carbon dioxide sequestering algae strains as well as strains that are grown with other carbon sources.  The algae will then be used for value-added feed products, algae derived bio-fuel, and the production of ethanol.

We must also embrace new revolutions in the industry that will affect us from farm to fork. With the urban/rural divide and more regulatory control because of consumer and government concern about food security, we must consider the value we are putting on the products we put into the marketplace. Every time we eat something, it makes a unique fingerprint on our genes. As an industry we must consider moving towards a molecular barcoding for the security of the entire food chain. This may also help in addressing some of the world’s problems with cancer, diabetes, HIV, and Alzheimer’s.  

But none of this is any good unless we brand. If Coke is branded as the real thing that must mean milk is the “real” real thing. Our industry needs to learn how to brand. For example, after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Alltech assisted in developing a coffee from Haiti, for the people of Haiti. Alltech Café Citadelle is organic and sustainable, and helps to support 6,000 families involved with the 30 ton/year production co-op.

Branding to consumers, maximizing traceability, minimizing pollution and finding alternative raw materials to feed our animals are challenges, but they are also your opportunities. Technologies such as programmed nutrition, the gene chip, algae, SSF, protected minerals, genomics, nanotechnology and mass spectrometry will help us to convert problems into game-changing solutions. So I leave you with one last thought, what would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?