Dream, take a chance and don’t be afraid to make a profit are the messages that attendees of Alltech’s flagship beef and dairy event, Global Dairy and Beef, took home with them when the two-day event came to a close on Sept. 1 in Deauville, France.
The event broke numerous records this year in its second European appearance, with more countries present than ever, 500,000 cattle represented, eight different live language translations and 700 attendees.
With the global dairy and beef industries facing challenges on all fronts, talks focused on increasing production efficiency, becoming more profitable and ensuring long-term sustainability. Global Dairy and Beef examined the current industry and looked at future trends, specifically addressing how farmers and producers can stay ahead of the curve.
“Farmers are the eternal entrepreneurs and will have a bright future if they focus on opportunities in their market, embrace technology and are willing to take risks,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech.
Damien McLoughlin, professor at University College Dublin, asked attendees to “embrace innovation and prioritize your time for you to grow opportunities to become more profitable.”
Katrine Lecornu, president of the European Dairy Farmers, explored farming labor and the next generation. “The main challenges for tomorrow’s farmer are improved labor management, profitability and investments and start-up costs,” said Lecornu.
While exploring the possibility of returning to a medieval tenancy system, Lecornu asked attendees, “Do you need to own your farm capital? Is it possible to produce milk with the price of land at 100,000 euros per hectare like in the Po Valley in Italy?
Tomorrow’s farmers must decide if they want to manage cows or manage people, she noted. “The next generation will get us to new heights, and they need our trust to get there.”
Lyons wrapped up the seventh Alltech Global Dairy and Beef by asking delegates, “What did you learn? How will it transform your farm? There are so many ideas and yet so little time.”
During the event, Alltech showcased local produce from the Normandy. The region is the heart of the French ruminant industry – there are more than 580,000 dairy cows and more than a quarter of a million beef cattle in Normandy residing on 12,500 dairy farms and 5,800 beef units.
An impressive 17,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Normandy. It provided the perfect backdrop for Alltech Global Dairy and Beef, which coincided with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy.
The 2015 Global Dairy and Beef conference will be held in conjunction with Alltech’s 31st annual International Symposium taking place in Lexington, Kentucky, in May 2015. PD
—From Alltech news release
PHOTO
Alltech's Global Dairy and Beef attendees visit farms in France to see some of the methods used outside of their home countries. Photo provided by Alltech.
