With a cadre of high-profile speakers confirmed, Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are pleased to announce that Roger Watchorn, group leader at Cargill Agriculture Supply Chain North America (CASCNA), will be the keynote speaker for Export Exchange 2018 next month.
Held every other year and sponsored by Growth Energy, USGC, and RFA, Export Exchange brings together international buyers and U.S. sellers of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), as well as other feed grain products. The Oct. 22-24 conference in Minneapolis is expected to attract nearly 500 attendees, including 200 from 30 countries participating as part of USGC trade teams.
Watchorn and his team are responsible for setting the culture and strategic direction for the domestic and export grain, oilseed processing, crop inputs, biodiesel, and Cargill Marine & Terminals businesses in Canada, the United States and Mexico. His remarks will focus on the achievements and challenges of the supply chain for U.S. coarse grains and co-products in today’s trade environment.
“I look forward to welcoming Mr. Watchorn to this year’s Export Exchange,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “With the current trade restrictions and farm income downturn, opening new international and domestic markets is critical to our industry. Mr. Watchorn’s unique experience in global exports and supply-chain building as well as perspective on the path forward for grains and co-products like DDGS will be sure to capture the attention of this year’s attendees.”
“Mr. Watchorn will bring a fresh perspective to Export Exchange, on the burgeoning international grains market and the trends and future of it from the supply chain perspective,” said USGC Chairman Jim Stitzlein. “We look forward to hosting him and getting his unique insight into the industry.”
Previously, Watchorn was president and business unit leader for Cargill’s Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain in North America (GOSCNA) and held various merchandising and management positions with GOSCNA in western Canada, North Dakota and Kansas before joining the company’s animal nutrition division in Warsaw, Poland in 2008.
“DDGS and other co-products are a vitally important part of the global feed market and provide a value-added market for the U.S. ethanol industry,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “In fact, nearly one out of every three tons of distillers grains produced last year was exported. The Export Exchange will help connect producers and marketers of these co-products with users around the globe.”
Speakers at Export Exchange will address critical issues facing U.S. agricultural exports, offering the customers and sellers in attendance an increased awareness of the benefits of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including DDGS. The conference’s speaker line-up will also include the following confirmed, high-caliber speakers focused on the status of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including DDGS and ethanol:
- Dr. Robert Johansson – USDA Chief Economist, will speak about the USDA’s 10-year outlook for coarse grains.
- Florentino Lopez – United Sorghum Checkoff Program Executive Director, will review the current status of the sorghum industry.
- Kelly Davis – Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Renewable Fuels Association, will discuss the importance of food safety plans in a session entitled Food Safety Regulations for Manufacturers of DDGS.
- Phil Smith – Nutritionist, Tyson Foods, will share the latest news on DDGS nutrition, feed formulation and research.
- Bill Holbrook – Senior Analyst, ProExporter, will give an update on the production supply and demand of U.S. DDGS in a session called DDGS Outlook, Challenges and Opportunities.
More information will be distributed in the coming months to members of the grains industries and will be made available online at www.exportexchange.org or on social media using the hashtag #ExEx18. Those interested can sign up for a mailing list to automatically receive conference updates by emailing info@exportexchange.org.
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Press Contact:
Leigh Claffey
202.545.4000
LClaffey@growthenergy.org
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ABOUT THE U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is contained on its website www.grains.org.
ABOUT THE RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION
The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. For more information, visit EthanolRFA.org.