December 12, 2023

 

Alltech ONE World Tour welcomes international agriculture leaders to Dubai, UAE

 

 

 

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 late last month 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.

 

"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 chief executive officer 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 regionalisation, 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 featured 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 at Emirates Food Industries (EFI).

 

"Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and we are at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future," Dr. Lyons said in his opening remarks. "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 recognise 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."

 

At ONE Dubai, delegates heard 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 agriculture value chain to explore opportunities for agriculture.

- Alltech