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Make plans to join your colleagues for the Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14, in Kansas City, MO. Learn from leading economists, journalists, consumer food experts and more as they share strategies for how you and your business can prosper in today’s global market. The Forum will explore the challenges and emerging opportunities that today’s business climate presents to us. You’ll leave with the tools you need to succeed – no matter who’s pulling your chain!<\/p>\n
Take a look at the speakers we have lined-up for you at the 2007 Agribusiness Forum:<\/p>\n
Tuesday, November 13<\/strong><\/p>\n
Keynote Speaker
\nWho’s Pulling Our Chain?
\n<\/em>Don Reynolds<\/strong>
\nDoes globalization mean a “Golden Age” for American agriculture? In this session, international economist Don Reynolds, delivers a fast paced overview of major trends in the global economy and how they will impact agriculture. From new economic developments to currencies, energy, interest rates and more, Reynolds will address recent market volatility in the financial markets and how you can prepare for – and profit from – today’s changing marketplace.<\/p>\nThe Changing Marketplace
\n<\/em>Dr. Claudia Mobley, Sam M. Walton College of Business, Center for Retailing Excellence
\n<\/strong>As the American population ages and changes, so do their habits as customers. How do we adapt to these changes and anticipate – and capitalize on – the trends that are shaping their buying habits? Dr. Claudia Mobley will discuss developing markets, the rise of health and wellness concerns and more. Learn how changing lifestyles and cultural shifts impact your bottom line…and how you can come out ahead!<\/p>\nWednesday, November 14<\/strong><\/p>\n
Food Safety & Customer Confidence – What’s Making News<\/strong><\/em>
\nMatt McKinney, Minneapolis Star Tribune<\/strong>
\nAmerican consumers have been jolted by food safety scares in the past year ranging from dirty spinach to sickening peanut butter. Yet it was the case of contaminated pet food from China that seemed to galvanize public opinion that something in the system has gone awry. That’s just the way it is: consumers and newspaper readers can be fickle, walking away from serious stories about their own health in favor of less weighty pieces about dogs and cats. So how does a newspaper choose which food safety stories to cover? Take a look at how a major metro newspaper covers the food industry.<\/p>\nSecond Keynote Speaker
\nThe Decision Zone: Six Issues the Food Industry Must Confront in 2008, 2009…<\/em>
\n<\/strong>Kevin Coupe, MorningNewsBeat.com<\/a><\/strong>
\nWhat are the compelling issues confronting the food industry in 2008 and beyond? What kinds of companies can be successful in a tough competitive environment that continually challenges them with issues like globalization and food safety? How will you differentiate your products, services and values in an era of cutthroat competition, when customer needs and priorities seem to shift almost daily?<\/p>\nKevin Coupe, MorningNewsBeat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Content Guy,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d addresses these issues each day on his web site\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6and they are the focus of this presentation. His premise: the stakes are too high, the time is too short, and the customer is too demanding for retailers and manufacturers to put off critical decisions that will define their future and their hopes for survival. You’ll walk away with tactics to help your company evolve and stay ahead of the game.<\/p>\n
Creating a Supply Chain for A “New to the World” Food Packaging Material<\/em><\/strong>
\n Mary Rosenthal, NatureWorks LLC
\n<\/strong>NatureWorks LLC is the first commercially viable producer of a truly sustainable resource based plastic – NatureWorks\u00c2\u00ae polymer. Made from 100% plant resources, not oil, NatureWorks polymer is being adopted quickly around the globe for use in food packaging, food serviceware, films and fibers under both the NatureWorks and Ingeo\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 brand names. But commercialization has not been without its challenges. Mary Rosenthal will present what has been required regarding supply chain education – including “Smart Care,” stakeholder engagement and issues management in order to bring this new material to market both here in North America and globally.<\/p>\nMary Rosenthal is Global Communications Leader for NatureWorks LLC, a renewable resource based polymer company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargill, Inc. In her role, Rosenthal leads marketing and corporate communications for the packaging, fibers and emerging application business segments.<\/p>\n
Who Is Pulling Our Chain?<\/strong><\/em>
\n Vidya Jwala \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Vice President, Supply Chain, Tractor Supply Company
\n<\/strong>Vidya Jwala is Vice President, Supply Chain for Tractor Supply Company. He will address some of the factors that been \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pulling the chain\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of Tractor Supply. He will share this information and the strategies that they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve employed to lead their company through these events.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nIn addition to the sessions at the Forum, you won’t want to miss out on the networking opportunities through breakfasts, breaks and the Professional Development Awards of Excellence luncheon. Congratulate the honorees of this year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s NAMA Professional Development Awards of Excellence. Each year, NAMA honors members with hands-on responsibility in marketing communications, public relations, product\/species management and sales. Awards will be given in each of these areas and the recipients will share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing.<\/p>\n
To register now for the 2007 Agribusiness Forum visit http:\/\/payment.nama.org\/forum.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n