INTERVIEW ▶▶▶ Dr Mark Lyons


“The next 30 years are critical to agriculture”


One year ago Dr Mark Lyons, CEO of Alltech, presented his vision of a Planet of Plenty. A year later he shares his ever-evolving thoughts on the future of agriculture with Dairy Global. In a time of worldwide disruption he sees challenges but also, above all, opportunities. “Change is the only constant and will open up a myriad of possibilities.”


BY FABIAN BROCKÖTTER, EDITOR IN CHIEF POULTRY WORLD


“Do we want to live on a planet of peril or plenty?” At the 35th edition of the renowned Alltech ONE conference in 2019, Dr Mark Lyons started a journey towards a future for his company and – more importantly – a journey which points to- wards an exciting future for the whole agricultural sector. “Do we want to live on a planet of peril or plenty?” he asked rhetorically. He continued: “We choose to believe in the latter. With upcoming new technologies, improved farm management practices and the


“We didn’t inherit the


earth from our ancestors; we are borrowing it from our children.”


ingenuity of mankind, a world of abundance could be ours. There is so much to discover, millions of ideas to chase and apply and, last but not least, stories to tell which show that plants, animals and people can thrive.” Twelve months later at the 36th


edition of


ONE, the world has changed in many ways. “Even with large parts of the world struggling with the coronavirus, there are no limits and we are fully shaping the future of agri-food. More than ever,


18 ▶DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 7, No. 4, 2020


Removing barriers and connecting people “With this edition of ONE we are removing barriers and connect- ing people. And – apart from our live events – we want to keep


I am convinced that the next 30 years are critical to agriculture,” says Dr Lyons.


Alltech ONE: Covid-19 prompts move to online Normally Dr Lyons would have welcomed over 3,500 guests to the 36th


edition of ONE in Lexington, Kentucky, but the coronavirus


threw a spanner in the works. “Sadly we have no live event this year and even with no lockdown in Kentucky we decided 70 days ago to prepare ourselves for an online ONE conference, a monu- mental undertaking which led to a very different experience than we are all used to, but which I am very excited about. The Alltech ONE virtual experience launched with over 23,000 registrants from over 115 countries – truly mind-boggling. They are being provided with on-demand focus sessions, streaming keynote presentations and live Q&A chats with select speakers.” He continues: “Of course we miss the live interactions and net- working possibilities but even that is partly possible with online groups coming together for separate discussions and a drink to toast with. Or as our keynote speaker, Cady Coleman, former NASA astronaut and US Air Force colonel stated when she shared her ex- periences of working in the challenging conditions on the Interna- tional Space Station: ‘I think the world understands missions in a different way because of this pandemic. Covid-19 has created this need to solve problems together and be on the same mission. Peo- ple are coming together, helping each other. It’s hopeful.’ I fully agree with that.”


PHOTO: ALLTECH


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