Ag Future: Innovation in Agri-Food

Pet brands that focus on sustainability have grown 7.1 times faster than their conventional counterparts in the last five years. This insight comes from our latest episode of the AgFuture podcast. This week, we are joined by Jim Lamancusa, Executive Director of the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC); Hannah Tirrell-Wysocki, Accreditation Manager at the PSC; and Kami Grandeen, Alltech’s North American Companion Animal Sales Manager. They discuss the mission and growth of the PSC, Alltech's recent reaccreditation with the PSC, and the platinum, gold, and silver sustainability medals from EcoVadis, an organization that provides business sustainability ratings. They also explore the shifting demand for sustainable pet foods by Millennials and Gen Z. Tune in to learn how these initiatives are transforming the pet industry.

Neutral Foods was the first U.S. company to be certified as carbon neutral. In this enlightening episode of Ag Future, we talk with Jake Schmitz, carbon reduction manager at Neutral, about developing a carbon-neutral company. An organic dairy expert and advocate for sustainable farming practices, Jake offers expert insights into the opportunities for dairy farmers to not only meet their sustainability goals but to improve performance and profitability. Jake shares insights on various Neutral projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, including interior fermentation, manure management, and transitioning to electric power. He also discusses the use of Agolin®, a Carbon-Trust-certified essential oil blend added to cow feed. Despite the challenges, Jake remains hopeful about the future of farming and the role of companies like Neutral in driving sustainable change.

Dairy producers earned over $3 million through carbon projects initiated with Agolin in 2021 and 2022. Recently, Concord Agriculture Partners selected Agolin® Ruminant to launch a new carbon inset project, ensuring that participating dairy producers will receive an industry-leading 85% of the gross value of the carbon asset. Join us as we delve into this transformative carbon inset project with Kevin Ogorzalek, partner and sustainability supply chain leader at Concord Agriculture Partners. Discover how this initiative is making sustainability profitable for U.S. dairy farmers and assisting businesses in reducing their carbon footprint.

In this episode of Ag Future, we are joined by Dr. Patrick Ward, Europe and Asia-Pacific applications manager at Alltech, to discuss the role of balancing sustainability and profitability on-farm. Dr. Ward discusses Agolin, a revolutionary Swiss company, now part of Alltech. Agolin's essential oil technologies optimize the rumen in beef and dairy animals, improving performance while helping producers meet their sustainability goals.

In this episode of Ag Future, we are joined by Martha Baker, Agolin and Carbon Lead for Alltech's Dairy Business, to explore the intriguing world of carbon markets. Is it truly the Wild West, as some believe? Martha, with her background in dairy nutrition and consulting, provides an insider’s perspective. She explains the complex dynamics of carbon markets, including key terms like offsets, insets, and Verified Emission Reductions. She also highlights the role of innovative technologies like Agolin®, which help producers meet sustainability goals and drive performance, with Agolin carbon projects paying back $3 million to farms in 2023 alone. Martha then offers valuable advice for dairy farmers considering entering the carbon market space.