News Release
Food and Fuel Forum planned for Oct. 23
September 19, 2008, KANSAS CITY, MO: The national debate over food and fuel uses of grain will be in the spotlight October 23 in Kansas City, MO, at a one-day forum being sponsored by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and co-hosted by the AgriBusiness Club of St. Louis; the Agri-Business Council of Wichita; the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee; Sosland Publishing; and Vance Publishing.
“The rapid emergence of bio fuels has brought changes to the agricultural economy that may be unrivaled dating back to the introduction of McCormick’s reaper,” said Bob Petersen, chairman of the Agricultural Business Council. “This trend has a huge impact on agricultural and food businesses as well as academic and research institutions right here in the Heartland and surrounding states. They will, in fact, be among the nation’s solution-makers.”
The event, scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the American Royal (lunch provided), will be moderated by Mike Adams of Agri-Talk and will feature nationally-recognized speakers including:
· Keynoter: Morton Sosland, editor-in-chief, Sosland Publishing Company
· Economic overview: Randy Schnepf, specialist in agricultural policy, Congressional Research Service
· Biofuels proponents: Ken McCauley, chairman, National Corn Growers Association and Blake Hurst, vice president, Missouri Farm Bureau Federation
· Food use proponents: Robb MacKie, president, American Bakers Association, and Dan Gustafson, director, North American Liaison Office, Food and Agriculture Organization.
According to Petersen, the goal of the forum is to lead to a greater understanding of differing perspectives of the food and fuel discussion. “The sponsoring organizations have gone to great lengths to ensure the forum will be a neutral venue for the differing perspectives, offering each the opportunity to make its case in an objective fashion,” says Petersen.
The event costs $75 per person. Online information and registration is available on the Council’s website at http://agribusinesscouncilofkc.com or inquiries can be directed to erica@petersenconsultingllc.com.
The American Royal is located at 1701 American Royal Court, Kansas City, MO.
-- End --
Media Coordinators: Agnes Schafer, (816) 512-2291 or Bill O’Neill, (816) 431-4032