Advancing toward climate-neutral farming takes revolutionary technologies, new innovations and unlikely alliances. Elanco will host two events at South by Southwest® (SXSW®) 2024 to discuss how the U.S. dairy industry is leading the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce environmental impact and drive value.
These sessions, featuring industry leaders from all segments of the dairy supply chain, will cover how cows can go from "climate culprits" to being part of the solution towards climate-neutral farming, ultimately helping reduce global warming, all while creating real value on the farm and in the food chain.
Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW® is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture. Featuring a variety of tracks that focus on the most important breakthroughs in technology, film, culture, and music, SXSW® proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.
Register for the event here
Climate Culprit or Solution: Can the Cow be the How?
Wednesday, March 13
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Dairy and livestock production have long been named “climate culprits.” But what if the path to being climate-neutral wasn’t about putting down dairy? What if we can enjoy more sustainable cheese and ice cream? The session will flip the script and illuminate how reducing methane emissions in livestock can lead to environmental sustainability improvements, while feeding a growing world population high-quality protein. We’ll unpack how technologies and innovations are revolutionizing agriculture putting climate-neutral cattle farming – and continued dairy bliss – within reach this decade.
Featured Speakers
Jeff Simmons, CEO, Elanco
Jeff Simmons serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Elanco Animal Health, a 70-year global leader committed to providing innovative products and knowledge services to improve animal health and welfare. With 30 years of industry and life sciences experience, Jeff has spent the past 15 years as head of Elanco. Through his purpose-driven leadership, in 2018, Jeff navigated the company’s separation from Eli Lilly and Company, culminating with Elanco’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange as an independent, public company. Additionally, in 2020, Jeff guided the acquisition of Bayer Animal Health, deepening Elanco’s pet health business and bringing an equal balance between pets and livestock.
Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., University of California – Davis
Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis. As such, he shares his knowledge and research, both domestically and abroad, with students, scientists, farmers and ranchers, policy makers, and the public at large. Frank is also director of the CLEAR Center, which has two cores – research and communications. The CLEAR Center brings clarity to the intersection of animal agriculture and the environment, helping our global community understand the environmental and human health impacts of livestock, so we can make informed decisions about the foods we eat and while reducing environmental impacts.
Steve Savage, Forbes Contributor
Steve Savage has been involved with agricultural technologies for more than 40 years. After a B.S. in biology at Stanford he pursued an M.S. and Ph.D in Plant Pathology (study of the diseases of plants) at the University of California, Davis, working on grape diseases. Since then he’s worked in academics (Colorado State), an international technology company (DuPont), and for a small, start-up that specialized in biological controls (Mycogen). Since 1996 Steve has been consulting for large and small companies, for venture capital groups, and for multi-stakeholder organizations studying sustainable. He has worked on dozens of crops from strawberries to potatoes to wheat and has worked on topics ranging from biotechnology, to bio-fuels, to pesticide residues assessments, to technologies that reduce food waste. Since 2009 he’s also been blogging and speaking with the goal of sharing true stories about the people and innovations characteristic of modern food and agriculture.
Kendra Tolley, Chief Product Officer, Athian
As the Chief Product Officer at Athian, Kendra is responsible for setting the vision and strategy for the Athian Sustainability Platform. As an AgTech Product Leader, she’s focused on empowering livestock producers to better understand and engage in carbon markets and enabling sustainability professionals in the livestock industry to meet their carbon neutral goals. Athian’s key mission is to help the beef and dairy value chains capture and claim carbon credits generated through on-farm sustainability efforts by aggregating, verifying, and certifying greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and monetizing those reductions for the producer through the sale of carbon insetting credits.
The Unlikely Partners Driving Climate-Neutral Farming
Wednesday, March 13
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
New alliances, innovative carbon marketplaces, revolutionary technologies and action plans are making methane reduction a real-world reality. Globally, companies and NGO’s are banding together in an effort to accelerate progress, align on common goals and take action to reduce methane emissions. While this may seem to be a cast of unlikely partners, the panelists are joining together to create a path towards climate-neutral farming this decade. Hear more about their methane reduction journey, what is working today, challenges that remain and their vision for the future.
Featured Speakers
Hansel New, Director of Sustainability, Dairy Farmers of America
Hansel New is an experienced food industry professional who currently leads sustainability programs at Dairy Farmers of America, one the world’s leading dairy food companies. Previously, he cultivated sustainability initiatives at Danone North America, WhiteWave Foods, and So Delicious with a proven track record in responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging, and brand building. Hansel’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and Safety and an MBA in Sustainability. Raised near the banks of the Snake River in Oregon’s fertile Treasure Valley, he grew up with a deep appreciation for the land and the farmers who steward it.
Greg Bethard, CEO, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy
Greg Bethard grew up in New Jersey USA and developed a passion for agriculture at a young age. He received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Tech in dairy nutrition and management and has spent his entire career in the dairy industry. He has served on faculty at New Mexico State University and North Carolina State University, and as a technical services specialist for Monsanto Dairy Business. From 2000 to 2014, Greg and his wife Rachel operated G&R Dairy Consulting, Inc., an international dairy consulting business based in Blacksburg, VA. Greg consulted with dairy producers and allied industry throughout the US and around the globe, working in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Greg spent a few years in Wisconsin, serving as CFO for the Pagel Family Businesses in Kewaunee, WI from 2014 to 2016. In 2017 Greg moved to Kansas and realized his lifelong dream of becoming a dairyman. Since 2017 he has been managing partner in High Plains Ponderosa Dairy in Plains KS and currently serves as CEO.
Katie Cook, Vice President Farm Animal and Livestock Sustainability, Elanco
Growing up in Michigan on a purebred cow/calf operation, Katie earned a dual degree from Michigan State University in animal science and marketing. After graduation, she started her career with Elanco in a cattle sales territory in southwest Oklahoma. She spent the next 10 years in the US Beef Marketing and Beef Management team with a variety of roles in marketing and sales management. During this time, she also earned a dual Indiana University-Purdue University M.B.A. and M.S. in agricultural economics. In 2016, Katie led the Elanco Global Sales Force Excellence Strategy & teams focused on enabling a best in class selling organization. Followed by 2 years in Canada where she was the General Manger for Elanco Canada. In the fall of 2020, Katie returned to Indiana and currently leads the Elanco Global Farm Animal Innovation & Cattle teams and the US Farm Animal Marketing Organization overseeing the innovation strategy for the global farm animal business and the US specific marketing strategies for the US Poultry, Cattle and Swine businesses.
