News Release

The 48th Governor's Conference on Agriculture is chock-full of meaningful agriculture technology presentations that will lay out what experts think Missouri farms and ranches may look like in the near future.

"Agriculture sits at the intersection of enormous global challenges that include a growing population, limited natural resources and a changing climate that is already contributing to extreme weather events like record temperatures and low rainfall," said Dr. Jeremy Williams, senior vice president for Bayer Crop Science. "Farmers need innovative solutions – tailored to the specific needs of their farm, their crops and their soil – so they can grow food successfully, safely and sustainably."

Key agriculture technology speakers for the ConnectMORE and EmpowerMORE Sessions

• Dr. Williams has a front-row seat to new agriculture research and development breakthroughs on the horizon. He will teach attendees how advances in molecular breeding, biotechnology and gene editing, combined with data science and artificial intelligence, will empower growers with the tailored solutions they need to maximize their productivity and adapt to a changing world.
• Dr. Ed Robb, CEO of BioPharma Potentials, is an experienced food animal veterinarian who had a dream one night that Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, was his client and operated a dairy and cow-calf farm. From there, Dr. Robb formulated his vision of what Jobs' farm may look like with future innovations in animal agriculture in mind. His presentation is entitled, "What if Steve Jobs owned a farm?"
• Mark Pryor, chairman and CEO of The Seam, has traveled the country discussing a buzzword we've all become familiar with: blockchain. The demands for increased traceability and transparency throughout the agriculture supply chain are at an all-time high. Enter blockchain, a "shared source of truth" poised to unite the supply chain through a common digital fabric providing open, neutral, borderless possibilities.
• Todd Sears, president and CEO of IntelliFarms, will share an authentic story of economic development in his small town of Archie, Mo. He connected with the right resources to bring high-speed internet to the rural Missouri town, igniting businesses in his community.

The 48th Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture will be held Jan. 10-11, 2019, at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo. To see the full conference schedule and register online, visit Agriculture.Mo.Gov/conference. Attendees may call Tan-Tar-A at 1-800-826-8272 to inquire about any remaining discounted hotel rooms for the conference.

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