Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated this week in Alltech ONE Dublin, your support and participation helped make this event a tremendous success. As we explored the significant challenges our industry is facing and solutions to help us stay resilient, and shared insights on sustainability, managing risks, the importance of data and partnerships, and more, we were inspired by your enthusiasm and optimism for the future.
Thank you for supporting the Alltech ONE World Tour. We look forward to your continued partnership as we explore more opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow.
#234: Reducing Disease Without Increased Resistance | Fiona Walsh
#235: FoodChain ID: Nourishing Transparency and Sustainable Growth | Ruud Overbeek
Blogs
Agriculture is at the heart of many important conversations in 2023. And whether the issue at hand is environmental concerns, the production of enough nutritious food for the global population or one of many other contentious topics, agricultural producers are often seen as anti-heroes — when, in reality, the agriculture industry has the greatest potential to make a positive impact on the world.
Proof of this positive impact was on display during the opening keynote addresses at Alltech ONE Dublin, the second stop on the Alltech ONE World Tour. Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, opened the conference with an assertion that the widespread image of agriculture as a villain makes it more important than ever to tell the story of how animal and food production benefit our planet.
The second stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE) wrapped up today in Dublin, Ireland, following a robust agenda of presentations focused on collaborative solutions to the challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs. ONE Dublin welcomed more than 500 international delegates in person at Croke Park. This world-class event brought industry leaders to the stage to share valuable insights in live presentations and focus-track sessions while uncovering the challenges and opportunities related to agriculture.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to the global health of humans, animals and the environment. By 2050, more humans globally will die from issues related to antibiotic resistance than from cancer. Within the same timeframe, there will be an 11% loss in livestock production just from antimicrobial resistance.
At Alltech ONE Dublin, Dr. Fiona Walsh, professor of microbiology at Maynooth University and head of the Antimicrobial Resistance One Health Research Centre, presented ideas on reducing animal disease without increasing antibiotic resistance.
The McDonald’s journey in Ireland started 45 years ago, when it opened its first restaurant in 1977 on Grafton Street, Dublin. Today, McDonald’s spends over $2 billion on its supply chain for food and packaging across the UK and Ireland. 23,000 British and Irish farmers are supplying the brand with quality ingredients.
Where and how McDonald’s sources its ingredients is essential to how it addresses climate challenges. Back in 2021, the company launched Plan for Change, its agriculture and sustainability strategy to reach net zero by 2040.
Agenda
Monday, June 19
07.00
Fun Run
09.00
Registration and networking breakfast
10.00
Welcome and Introduction – Cathal McCormack, Alltech Ireland Country Manager
10.05
Opening Keynote – Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech President and CEO
10.35
Agriculture’s Role in Saving the Planet – Dr. Vaughn Holder, Director of Ruminant Research, Alltech; and Nikki Putnam Badding, Managing Director, Acutia
11.35
Coffee Break
12.00
The European Consumer – Drivers of Demand 2030 – Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union
12.30
Succeeding Through Conflict – Dmitry Skornyakov, CEO, HarvEast
13.00
Lunch
14.15
Species Tracks:
Track 1: Soil and Crop Track: Chaired by Dr. Richard Lally, Alltech Research Project Manager
Exploring Farm Management From Soil to Forage and Back Again
Introduction – Dr. Richard Lally
The Secret Service: Benefits of the Soil and Plant Microbiome – Dr. Mary Jo Hurley, Assistant Agricultural Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
‘Fixing’ the Nitrogen Problem: Could Free Nitrogen be a Free Lunch? – Dr. Euan James, Research Leader, James Hutton Institute, Scotland
Green and Brown Gold: Protecting the Value of Your Grass, Silage and Manure Investment – Matthew Smith, Alltech Vice President; Dr. Laurann Byrne, Alltech Research Project Manager; and Dr. Kate LeCocq, PostDoc Harper Adams
Panel discussion with the following speakers from earlier tracks:
- Dr. Mary Jo Hurley, Assistant Agricultural Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Dr. Euan James, Research Assistant, James Hutton Institute, Scotland
- Matthew Smith, Alltech Vice President
- Dr. Laurann Byrne, Alltech Research Project Manager
- Dr. Kate LeCocq, PostDoc Harper Adams
Track 2: Animal Track: Chaired by Dr. Hazel Rooney, Alltech Technical Pig Coordinator
Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities, From the Gut to the Grass
Introduction – Dr. Hazel Rooney
Emissions Reduction for Agriculture: What are the Viable Options? – Will Streatfeild, Key Account Lead, Alltech E-CO2
Reducing Disease Without Increased Resistance – Professor Fiona Walsh, Microbiologist, Maynooth University
Breed to Feed: Fast-Tracking Breeding for More Efficient Animals – Dr. Julia Adriana Calderon Diaz, Genetic Services Specialist, PIC
The Bane of Methane: Reduction Potential Via Innovative Nutritional Strategies – Dr. Vaughn Holder, Director of Ruminant Research, Alltech
Panel Discussion focused on data and agritech:
- James Maloney, Senior Development Advisor for Agritech, Climate and Sustainability, Enterprise Ireland
- Ash Gilman, Director of Agricultural Strategy, Cranswick PLC
- John Wisby, Co-founder and CEO, Chordata Limited
- Ciarán Black, Develop of New Growth Opportunities
Track 3: The Business Food and Farming: Chaired by James Brough, Ireland and UK General Manager, KEENAN
How Climate, Conflict, Consumers and Costs Will Shape Agricultures Future
Introduction – James Brough
Farming Electricity: The Biogas Opportunity – Dr. Patrick Ward, Europe and Asia-Pacific Applications Manager, Alltech
Data: The Answer to Profitable Sustainable Agriculture – Conan Condon, Head of Agri Analytics, Alltech
The Future of Sustainable Agriculture in a Changing World: How Independent Verification Ensures Transparency – Dr. Ruud (Rudolf) A. Overbeek, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Relationships at FoodChain ID
Bridging the Gap From Farmer to Consumer – Zoe Kavanagh, CEO, National Dairy Council
16.30
End of Presentation
16.45
Buses depart with attendees for hotel
18.30
Buses depart hotels for Pearse Lyons Distillery
19.00
Arrival to Pearse Lyons Distillery
21.30
Back to hotel
Tuesday, June 20
08.30
Registration and networking breakfast
09.30
Welcome and Highlights from Day 1 – Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech President and CEO
09.45
Demonstrating the ROI of Sustainability: The Business Case of Sustainability, Policy Meets the Change Agenda – Tara McCarthy, Alltech Global Vice President of ESG
10.10
Findings of Alltech’s Global Value Chain Engagement Study – Holly Geraghty, Project Manager of Sustainability, Alltech
10.35
The Metrics That Justify the Investment – Russell Smyth, Head of Sustainable Futures, KPMG Ireland
11.00
Coffee Break
11.30
Our Journey to Net Zero: the role of supply chain – Nina Prichard, Head of Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing for McDonald’s UK and Ireland
11.55
The forgotten role of the feed industry – Constance Cullman, President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)
12.20
Panel Discussion: How do we feed the ecosystem, not just ourselves?
- Hans Jöhr, Former Nestle Corporate Head of Agriculture. C-Level Advisor, Board Member, Sustainability and ESG Specialist & Coach
- Nina Prichard, Head of Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing for McDonald’s UK and Ireland
- Constance Cullman, President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)
- Russell Smyth, KPMG Head of Sustainable Futures
13.00
Closing Remarks – Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech President and CEO
13.15
Lunch
14.15
Groups depart for tours – choice of three to visit:
- Country Crest Farm – focusing on soil, crop, and beef
- Old Carton Farm – focusing on spring calving dairy herd
- Tour of Alltech Ireland, European Bioscience Centre
*Times are subject to change
Speakers
Dr. Mark Lyons
President and CEO, Alltech
Dr. Mark Lyons grew up in the Alltech business, having traveled with his father and Alltech’s founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons, from a young age to visit customers. With experience working in all regions and nearly all departments — before even officially joining Alltech — he has a deep and uniquely personal knowledge of the company. Based on Alltech’s belief that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively shape our world’s future, he launched the Planet of Plenty™ vision in 2019. He has called for collaboration to provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.
Dr. Lyons began his career at Alltech focused on the development of the company’s core nutritional technologies. He spearheaded many critical projects, including simultaneously managing the establishment of a plant in Serbia and the creation of Alltech’s flagship yeast production facility in São Pedro, Brazil. He also spent nearly four years in Mexico rebuilding the company’s solid state fermentation plant in Serdán, which is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Under his leadership as director of North America from 2009 to 2011, Alltech expanded its presence with the opening of new offices and a growing involvement in all agricultural sectors. In 2012, Dr. Lyons relocated to China, the world’s largest feed market, as part of Alltech’s focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Living in Beijing and traveling throughout the country, he led the Alltech China office and focused on building bridges between China and the wider industry through research, education and strategic initiatives.
Today, Dr. Lyons is based at Alltech’s headquarters in Kentucky, USA. He serves on the CLEAR Center Advisory Council and is active in many industry groups. Dr. Lyons has published papers and patents in areas ranging from enzyme production to global economics and is interested in the assurance of food safety and quality throughout the entire food chain.
Dr. Lyons received his bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental science in 1999 from the University of Chicago. He received his master’s degree in brewing and distilling in 2001, followed by a Ph.D. in the area of solid state fermentation, at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh in 2008. Dr. Lyons is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French and German, and he has a working knowledge of Mandarin.
Dr. Hans Jöhr
Former Nestle Corporate Head of Agriculture, C-Level Advisor, Board Member, Sustainability and ESG Specialist & Coach
Dr. Hans Jöhr is a specialist and coach in the fields of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability. He often utilizes his expertise to advise C-level leaders on these issues in their corporate endeavors.
Jöhr previously served as the corporate head of agriculture at Nestlé in Vevey, Switzerland. In that role, he was responsible for providing technical and strategic leadership for the group’s worldwide agricultural raw material supply chain and sourcing.
Jöhr’s practical experiences as a farmer have given him unique insight into the agriculture industry. He utilizes those insights as a member of several boards, including the International Policy Council on Agriculture Food and Trade (IPC), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Africa, and the Swiss National Committee of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Jöhr also formerly served as member of the Advisory Council of the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs.
Jöhr holds a doctoral degree in economic science. He has also completed management programs at l’Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, and Harvard Business School.
Nina Prichard
Head of Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing, McDonald's U.K. and Ireland
Nina Prichard is the head of sustainable and ethical sourcing for McDonald’s in the U.K. and Ireland. She also oversees Plan for Change, McDonald’s sustainability and brand trust strategy.
Prichard joined McDonald’s in 2011. In her current role, she works to imbue sustainability throughout the business, with a focus on agriculture, the environment and the sustainable sourcing of food and packaging, which contributes to annual supply-chain spending that currently exceeds $2 billion. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Prichard was a senior research and development adviser for the Welsh government.
Prichard received the McDonald’s Global President’s Award in 2021. She was also recognised by The Grocer in 2023 as one of the top 10 female sustainability leaders in the U.K.
Prichard is a fellow of the Forward Institute and a member of the RSA. She has previously served as a professional adviser for Harper Adams Agricultural University.
Dmitry Skornyakov
CEO, HarvEast
Dmitry Skornyakov is the CEO of HarvEast, an agricultural holding group that owns and manages assets in the Crimea and the Donetsk Oblast province of Ukraine. The group’s focus areas include dairy farming and raising crops like wheat, sunflower, barley, grasses and corn. HarvEast oversees around 197,000 hectares of farmland and more than 17,500 head of livestock.
Skornyakov has more than 18 years of experience in various analytical and operational roles. Prior to joining HarvEast, he served as a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a leading international audit firm. He has been with HarvEast since its establishment in 2011. Before being named CEO, he served as the company’s chief financial officer and, subsequently, as its chief operating officer, with special responsibilities related to production.
Skornyakov has published articles on various subjects in numerous outlets, including Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Welle and the Associated Press.
Skornyakov holds a degree in finance and law and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has also participated in programs at INSAID and Harvard Business School.
Mairead McGuinness
European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union
Mairead McGuinness is the European commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union. In this role, she is focused on ensuring the strength and stability of Europe’s financial sector so that it can deliver for people, society and the environment.
Before joining the European Commission in 2020, McGuinness served in the role of first vice president of the European Parliament. As first vice president, she oversaw relations with other national parliaments, led the Parliament’s dialogue with religious and philosophical organisations, and oversaw the parliamentary communication policy.
McGuinness previously served as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Ireland for 16 years. During her time in the Parliament, she served on a range of committees, including those overseeing agriculture, the environment, public health, budgets, petitions and constitutional affairs. Her legislative work included leading the EPP Group on the European Climate Law, the revision of medical devices legislation, and CAP reform post-2013.
As an Irish MEP representing the border region, McGuinness was outspoken about Brexit and its impact on Ireland and the EU. In 2006, McGuinness chaired the Parliament’s investigation into the collapse of the Equitable Life assurance company and helped identify issues related to weak financial regulations.
Prior to joining the European Parliament, McGuinness was an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and commentator.
Russell Smyth
Head of Sustainable Futures, KPMG Ireland
Russell Smyth is a partner in KPMG Ireland, a member firm of the global KPMG organisation, which offers a variety of professional assistance, including a range of audit, tax and advisory services, to a broad range of domestic and international clients across all sectors of business and the economy.
Smyth also leads KPMG Sustainable Future, the firm’s dedicated climate and sustainability advisory practice. In that role, he utilizes his more than 15 years of experience in the low-carbon and sustainability sectors, where he worked to help corporate and public-sector organisations respond to the climate crisis and consumer expectations related to climate change.
Ruud Overbeek
Senior Vice-President, Corporate Development & Strategic Relationships, FoodChain ID
Ruud Overbeek is the senior vice president for corporate development and strategic relationships at FoodChain ID. In this role, he is responsible for the company’s strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions. He also helps foster and maintain the foundational relationships that FoodChain ID has established with its key customers and partners. He is also a non-executive director at Edloomio BV.
Overbeek joined FoodChain ID through its acquisition of Decernis LLC, where he had been responsible for strategically leading the expansion of the company’s market position and outreach. He had also previously served on Decernis LLC’s board of directors. Prior to joining Decernis LLC, Overbeek served in various roles in companies across the industry, including as a global vice president at Intertek, as a vice president at Avantium, and as the technology development manager at ABB.
Overbeek holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry, as well as a doctoral degree, all from Utrecht University.
Zoe Kavanagh
CEO, National Dairy Council
Zoe Kavanagh is the CEO of the National Dairy Council (NDC), which champions the production of sustainable, quality, pasture-based dairy products, as well as their nutritional benefits. The NDC is particularly focused on serving as an advocate for Irish dairy farmers to ensure that they can continue producing world-class dairy while responding to the challenge of climate change.
Kavanagh has been at the helm of the NDC since 2011. In this role, she has been instrumental in marketing and promoting the Irish dairy industry and its grass-based production credentials. She has also led the effort to share a positive image of Irish dairy products and production with consumers to establish and grow their trust.
Kavanagh is highly active across the global dairy industry, sitting on the boards of the European Milk Forum (EMF) and the International Milk Promotion Group (IMP). She is also very involved with the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) and regularly represents the Irish dairy industry at conferences and events, both in Ireland and abroad.
Dr. Euan James
Research Leader, James Hutton Institute
Tara McCarthy
Global Vice President for ESG, Alltech
Tara McCarthy is the global vice president of ESG at Alltech. In this role, she works to advance the company’s mission of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™, focusing on the economic, environmental and social aspects of the well-being of the planet.
McCarthy has more than 25 years of experience in the food industry at large and is passionate about the opportunities presented by sustainably produced food. Throughout her career, McCarthy has led capability initiatives for students, early-career executives and entrepreneurs within the food industry and, as a result, has formed successful partnerships both at home and abroad.
McCarthy has lived and worked in numerous markets, including Germany, France and Belgium. Before joining Alltech in 2022, she served as the chief executive of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, and as the chief executive for Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency. In 2019, she co-founded Agdif, an initiative championing diversity in the Irish food industry. She has brought Ireland’s food industry to the world by speaking widely about Origin Green, Ireland’s unique national sustainability program. In 2021, she led the establishment of the Origin Green Global Council.
McCarthy has been recognized with a number of awards, including a Fellowship of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and a Top 25 Ireland’s Most Powerful Women in the Public Sector Leaders Award. She was named Alumna of the Year for Business and Commerce by the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2017 and Alumna of the Year by the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School in 2019.
McCarthy holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a master’s degree in business studies with a focus on marketing from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School. She is an affiliate of IMD Business School in Switzerland. McCarthy lives in Dublin with her husband, Didier, and three children.
Dr. Vaughn Holder
Ruminant Research Director, Alltech
Dr. Vaughn Holder is the ruminant research director at Alltech. He previously served as the project manager for the company’s beef nutrition research.
Holder first came to Alltech for a research internship at the company’s North American Bioscience Center in Nicholasville, Kentucky, where his research focused on the effects of various yeast culture strains on the growth of select rumen microorganisms in vitro. He later rejoined Alltech as a postdoctoral trainee, and in that role, he focused on offering advanced technical support in relation to ruminant protein nutrition. Holder later transferred to Alltech’s South African offices in Stellenbosch as the national research and technical director before returning to Alltech’s research headquarters in Nicholasville, where he now heads the company’s global nutritional research related to ruminant species.
Holder holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Pretoria, a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition and microbiology from the University of Pretoria, and a doctoral degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Kentucky.
Nikki Putnam Badding
Managing Director, Acutia
Nikki Putnam Badding is a registered dietitian and the director of human nutrition initiatives at Alltech. She is also the managing director of Acutia, a human health and wellness subsidiary of Alltech.
In her role at Alltech, Badding helps farmers and producers across the globe utilize consumer trends and behaviors and apply the lens of human nutrition to agricultural practices for the improved health of plants, animals and consumers. At Acutia, she oversees the organization’s business strategy and product development and manages company-wide operations. Badding is also a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and an executive committee member of its practice group, Dietitians in Business and Communications.
Prior to joining Alltech, Badding worked as a dietitian for a large U.S. supermarket chain. She has also previously conducted research at the University of Kentucky, where she examined the food environment as a determinant for obesity, as well as community-based behavioral interventions focused on chronic disease prevention.
Badding holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, where she also completed a dietetic internship. She earned a master’s degree in nutritional science at the University of Kentucky and recently completed an executive development program through University College Dublin.
Fiona Walsh
Professor of Microbiology, Maynooth University
Fiona Walsh is a professor of microbiology at Maynooth University. She is also the head of the Antimicrobial Resistance One Health Research Centre.
Walsh established a research group at Maynooth University in 2014 to investigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its effects on environmental, animal and human health from a “One Health” perspective, as established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Walsh’s research group is particularly interested in studying the transmission of plasmid-mediated AMR across different systems and how the microbiome can enhance or mitigate these events.
Walsh began her career as a Health Research Board research fellow in the department of clinical microbiology at Trinity College Dublin, where she investigated AMR in hospital pathogens. She later joined Switzerland’s federal Department of Agriculture to investigate the environmental impact of antibiotics used in plant agriculture and the selection of AMR as relevant to human health.
Walsh holds a doctoral degree in medical microbiology from Edinburgh University.
Dr. Patrick Ward
Applications Manager, Europe and Asia, Alltech
Dr. Patrick Ward is the applications manager for Europe and Asia-Pacific at Alltech. In this role, he focuses on new products and innovation across the European and Asian markets, combining research with commercial opportunities. His current research interests include analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, anti-methanogens, enzymes, anaerobic digestion and BMP analysis.
After serving for nearly a decade in Alltech’s research department, in 2018, Ward was appointed to the role of technical manager of Alltech’s Analytical Services Laboratories (37+), a commercial lab that quantifies mycotoxins in feed samples across the globe, supporting all sectors of the animal feed supply chain. Ward moved into his current role in 2020, and in the years since, he has established two BMP labs, which quantify methane output from specific substrates. He is also currently working to set up two new labs in India and Thailand that will improve Alltech’s ability to support its customers in those countries. He has also led Alltech’s efforts to formulate three new enzyme products for use in anaerobic digesters.
Ward holds a degree in chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry from Maynooth University. He subsequently received an employment-based doctoral chemistry scholarship from the Irish Research Council, which allowed him to complete research investigating small-molecule seleno-compounds at Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre and at Dublin City University. Ward also earned an advanced diploma in project management at Dublin Business School and completed an Alltech-sponsored MBA program at the Michael Smurfit Business School at University College Dublin. He has also earned a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and completed the IBBK proBiogas training course.
Conan Condon
Head of Agri Analytics, Alltech
Conan Condon is the head of agri-analytics at Alltech. In this role, he is focused on creating and delivering a comprehensive data decision platform that is unique to Alltech. Condon is also responsible for managing and developing InTouch, the company’s award-winning feed management service.
Condon utilizes his in-depth understanding of computer management to offer superior customer service and to lead the way on the integration of ag-tech datasets, business development, contract management and systems delivery. At Alltech, he works with a wide range of datasets from within the company, as well as numerous external data sources.
Previously, Condon was a systems administrator at KEENAN before being appointed to the position of group IT manager. In that role, he was responsible for managing the global roll-out and implementation of the Epicor ERP System and the CRM platform, SalesLogix, within KEENAN. In 2013, Condon became the director of InTouch, where he was responsible for leading the business and technology development of the InTouch feed management service.
Condon earned a diploma in computer science from the Institute of Technology Carlow and a degree in computing with a focus on information technology from Waterford Institute of Technology.
Dr. Mary Jo Hurley
Assistant Agricultural Inspector, DAFM
Dr. Mary Jo Hurley is the assistant agricultural inspector in nematology for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in Ireland. The DAFM strives to lead the sustainable development of Ireland’s agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant national economy and society.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hurley has served in various roles in the agri-biotech industry, with a focus on leading research studying the use of soil microbes for heavy-metal stabilization in food crops. She currently works in the DAFM’s Plant Science Division in Kildare, Ireland. Dr. Hurley also serves as the head of the National Reference Laboratory for Nematology, which provides diagnostic and advisory services in support of the Irish National Plant Protection Organization.
Dr. Hurley holds an undergraduate degree in biosciences and a doctoral degree from the Institute of Technology Carlow, now known as South East Technological University Carlow. In her doctoral work, she examined the interactions between nematodes and plant-growth-promoting bacteria.
Dr. Kate Le Cocq
Postdoctoral Researcher, Harper Adams University
Dr. Kate Le Cocq is a postdoctoral researcher at Harper Adams University. Her research currently focuses on forage fermentation and quality, with a goal of reducing both visible and invisible losses on-farm and mitigating the associated impact on the rumen function and overall performance of animals.
Dr. Le Cocq previously conducted research at Rothamsted Research, one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, where she studied plant microbe interactions before turning her focus to silage. Her research has also explored the application of molecular methods for the detection of fungal contamination in silage and the ensiling of herbal leys.
Dr. Le Cocq completed her doctoral studies at the University of Exeter, where she focused on the genetic manipulation of Trichoderma hamatum, a plant-growth-promoting and biocontrol fungus.
Dr. Julia Adriana Calderon Diaz
Genetic Services Specialist, PIC
Dr. Julia Adriana Calderon Diaz is a genetic services specialist at PIC, or the Pig Improvement Company. In this role, she works to provide PIC customers with meaningful insights from the company’s pig performance data.
An animal scientist whose expertise lies in maximizing the power of data and analytical practices to facilitate data-driven decision-making and improve efficiency in pig production systems, Calderon Diaz was a postdoctoral research associate at Iowa State University from 2013 to 2015. In that role, she contributed to various projects aiming to improve the lifetime productivity of sows. She later joined Teagasc in Ireland as a postdoctoral research fellow, where she focused on designing methodologies to improve pig welfare, health and performance indicators and on developing decision-support tools to help pig farmers identify areas where intervention might be needed to maximize sustainability and profitability.
Calderon Diaz joined the data analytics team at PIC in 2021 as a global data analytics and product development specialist supporting the company’s global product validation and technical services teams. She also worked with the European genetic services team, with a specific focus on Irish producers.
Calderon Diaz holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the Escuela Agrícola Panamericana, also known as Zamorano University. She also holds a master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics from the Universität für Bodenkultur in Austria and a master’s degree in animal science from the Erasmus Mundus program in animal breeding and genetics at AgroParisTech. During her time at AgroParisTech, she conducted research at INRAe, where she focused on estimating correlative responses in sow reproduction in a selection experiment for residual feed intake.
Calderon Diaz holds a doctoral degree in agriculture and food science, with a focus on the welfare and behavior of group housed sows, from University College Dublin (UCD), where she also earned a professional certificate in bioinformatics for animal and veterinary science. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in fintech from the Technological University Dublin.
Matthew Smith
Vice President, Alltech
Matthew Smith is the vice president of Alltech. He previously served as the company’s vice president of Asia-Pacific.
Smith began his career on a dairy farm in the U.K. and has been working in the feed industry for more than two decades. His various roles in the agriculture industry have taken him throughout Asia, Europe and North America. Smith relocated from the U.K. to become the general manager of Alltech New Zealand in 2009. He returned to the U.K. in 2018 to lead Alltech E-CO2, as well as the company’s global rumen function platform and its operations in the U.K.
Smith holds a business law degree from Coventry University and obtained a solicitor’s final qualification from the College of Law, Chester.
Cathal McCormack
Alltech Ireland Country Manager
Cathal McCormack is the country manager for Ireland at Alltech. In this role, he oversees all of Alltech’s commercial activities across Ireland.
McCormack has deep roots with the agriculture industry, as the McCormack family has been synonymous with top-quality pedigree Angus cattle throughout Ireland and the UK since the 1950s. He joined Alltech in 2007 as a regional sales manager, and he previously served as a training and development officer with Macra na Feirme.
McCormack is very active in the Irish agriculture industry, having served on several committees over the years, including the Irish Grassland Association and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, where he was part of the Beef Economic Index Implementation Committee. He has also served on the Irish Angus Cattle Society Council.
McCormack holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in business management from the Michael Smurfit Business School at University College Dublin.
Dr. Richard Lally
Alltech Research Project Manager
Dr. Richard Lally is a research project manager at Alltech. In this role, he conducts research that aims to solve issues related to crop yield losses from pathogens, inadequate nutrient use and abiotic stress.
Previously, Lally completed a postdoctoral position at Alltech’s Center for Animal Nutrigenomics and Applied Animal Nutrition, which is located at the company’s headquarters in Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA. His postdoc research studied crop protection products in the management of diseases in citrus and other specialty crops. In his current role, Lally is based in Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre in Dunboyne, where he studies the role of fermentation products in soil health, among many other subjects.
Lally holds an undergraduate degree in bioscience with a focus on biopharmaceuticals and a doctoral degree from the Institute of Technology, Carlow, which is now known as South East Technological University. His doctoral dissertation studied the use of plant symbiotic bacteria in sustainable crop production.
James Brough
KEENAN UK & IRE General Manager
James Brough is the general manager of KEENAN in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In this role, he has driven innovation throughout the business to address needs across the supply chain, from farm to retail.
Brough has been passionate about agriculture from a young age, having been actively involved on his family’s dairy farm. He first joined KEENAN, which has since become a member of the Alltech family of companies, as a trainee in the U.K. In his current role as general manager, Brough strives to improve efficiency, profitability and sustainability on hundreds of dairy and beef farms.
Brough serves on several local farming committees and remains connected with producers through a variety of breed societies. As a result of this commitment to staying involved, he has become a prolific, active and well-respected figure within the agriculture sector.
Brough holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Harper Adams University. A father of three, Brough enjoys spending time with his family on their farm, as well as following his favorite rugby and football clubs.
Dr. Hazel Rooney
Pig Technical Coordinator, Alltech
Hazel Rooney is the pig technical coordinator for Alltech in Ireland. In this role, she is responsible for the coordination and development of technical solutions for pigs in the Irish and European marketplace.
Previously, Rooney served as a post-doctoral researcher in the pig development department at Teagasc in Ireland. At Alltech, she works closely with the company’s sales and gut health management teams across Ireland.
Rooney received a doctoral degree in swine nutrition from University College Dublin in association with Teagasc. Her doctoral research focused on maternal feeding strategies during gestation and lactation to optimise annual sow output and to promote the growth and development of progeny from large litters.
Will Streatfeild
Key Account Lead, Alltech E-CO2
Will Streatfeild is the key account lead for Alltech E-CO2. In that role, he manages multiple projects and offers advice related to sustainability and mitigation for farmers, processors and retailers.
Streatfeild began his career in the agriculture industry by serving in several herd-health management roles on farms in New Zealand and the U.K., including as the herd manager for a 1,200-cow dairy farm in Somerset, England. Since joining Alltech, he has served in both regional and global positions, giving him a broad overview of the company and its global business. The combination of Streatfeild’s expertise in science and sustainability, along with his practical background in herd management, allow him to offer producers clear and practical advice about the supply chain and other topics.
Streatfeild holds a degree from the University of Reading, where his undergraduate dissertation focused on carbon footprinting on dairy farms.
Dr. Laurann Byrne
Alltech Research Project Manager
Dr. Laurann Byrne is a research project manager for Alltech. In this role, the main focus of her current research is on the role of trace minerals in production animal nutrition.
Dr. Byrne has shared her expertise on a global scale through various lectures and panel discussions, including at the Women in Food and Agriculture Summit in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2022. She is passionate about how scientific solutions can enhance animal welfare, contribute to improved sustainability, and provide benefits for those working in the agriculture industry.
Some of Dr. Byrne’s previous research has focused on assessing the use of novel analytical methods for the identification and characterization of peptide-metal complexes and metal-peptide stability studies. She has also explored speciation studies, vitamin and antioxidant analyses, biomarker detection, mineral chelation and the relative bioavailability of trace minerals.
Dr. Byrne holds a bachelor’s degree in science and a doctoral degree in biology from Maynooth University.
Holly Geraghty
Project Manager for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Alltech
Holly Geraghty is a project manager for environmental, social and governance (ESG) at Alltech. In this role, she is responsible for managing a range of projects and programmes that support the advancement of Alltech’s mission of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.
Geraghty first joined Alltech at its European headquarters in Ireland in 2012 through the company’s career development program. Upon completing the program, she took on the role of equine marketing coordinator in the lead-up to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.
Geraghty subsequently served as the marketing coordinator for Alltech Ireland. After gaining three years of experience working in the Irish marketplace, she was promoted to the role of Alltech’s regional marketing manager for northwest Europe, during which time she oversaw the company’s marketing strategy in five countries. In 2018, she became a global product marketing manager. In that role, she was responsible for positioning and promoting one of Alltech’s core product categories, working closely with the company’s technical and research teams, and supporting sales and marketing initiatives across all regions. Geraghty has been serving in her current role as ESG project manager since early 2023.
Geraghty holds a bachelor’s degree in business studies from Dublin City University and a master’s degree in business leadership and management from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School at University College Dublin.
Constance Cullman
President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)
Constance Cullman is the American Feed Industry Association’s president and CEO. She also serves as the president of AFIA’s public charity the Institute for Feed Education and Research. She represents AFIA on international issues, serving on the International Feed Industry Federation’s
board of directors and executive committee, as
well as the Global Feed LCA Institute’s board of
directors.
In 2020, Cullman was appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign
Agricultural Service’s Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee.
Cullman previously served as the president and CEO of Farm Foundation. Prior to that role, she
served as the U.S. government affairs leader for Dow AgroSciences; senior director of
regulatory, technical and international affairs at the Corn Refiners Association; associate
administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service; vice
president of agricultural ecology at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation; and extension associate at
The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Cullman has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a master’s degree in agricultural
economics with an emphasis on international trade and agricultural policy from The Ohio State
University. She hails from Marysville, Ohio, where her family owned and operated a cow/calf
farm.
Founded in 1909, the AFIA, based in Arlington, Va., is the world’s largest organization devoted
exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal
food industry and its suppliers. AFIA’s members manufacture more than 75% of the feed and
70% of the non-whole grain ingredients used in the country.
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