7:30 am - Breakfast, Sponsored by 
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8:30 am - Welcome and Opening Remarks
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8:45 am - The Case for Investment in Agriculture
 Philippe de Lapérouse, Managing Director, HighQuest Partners
Investment interest in the agriculture sector has grown dramatically over the past 5 years creating unique opportunities for allocating capital across the supply chain and around the world.
- What are the primary drivers that support increased investment in agriculture?
- Which points along the supply chain and in which geographies are attracting the most interest from investors and why?
- How is increased investment in agriculture likely to affect the supply and demand for agricultural commodities in different parts of the world?
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9:30 am - Global Protein Meal and Veg Oil Outlook
 Thomas Mielke, Director and Editor, Oil World
One of the world’s leading experts in oilseed market trends will share his insights as to where the protein meal and vegetable oil markets are headed over the near and medium term.
- What are supply and demand forecasts for major vegetable oils?
- What are price trends in the global vegetable protein and oil and meal markets?
- How will oilseeds compete with other major row crops and how will soft oilseeds compete with tropical oils?
- What are the major challenges facing the global oilseed industry in 2013?
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10:15 am - Coffee Break, Sponsored by 
10:45 am - Keynote Presentation: Advancing Agriculture to Serve the Growing World
 Antonio Galindez, President and CEO, Dow AgroSciences
Under the umbrella of rapidly increasing global population growth and changing dietary needs, our keynote speaker will share his perspectives on the technologies that are advancing agriculture today, the innovation potential, the need for sustainable solutions, and what will be required from both private and public sectors in order to successfully serve the world’s growing need for increased crop production.
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11:30 am - Panel: State Secretaries/Commissioners of Agriculture
 Moderator: Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Panelists:
 Dave Frederickson, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
 Doug Goehring, Commissioner, North Dakota Department of Agriculture
 Mike Strain, Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
 Joseph Kelsay, Director, Indiana State Department of Agriculture
Politics plays an important role in the government programs that affect growers as well as in how public funds are allocated for infrastructure development and maintenance. Our panel of secretaries/commissioners of agriculture from key crop production states in the U.S. Corn Belt will share their perspectives on a number of key trends in US agriculture,with a particular focus on how this will affect the competitiveness of U.S. crops in the global market.
- What impact will the US Farm Bill likely have on planting intentions in 2013 and beyond?
- What does competition for soybeans and feed grains between PNW and NOLA mean for the trade and for buyers in the export markets?
- What is being done to modernize US infrastructure (roads, rail and waterways) to ensure that the US maintains its competitive edge with South America in the export market?
- How are new precision technologies (new seed traits, VRT, irrigation) affecting the types of crops and yields in different regions of the US Corn Belt?
- What challenges does constrained access to water pose for producers?
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12: 15 pm - Lunch, Sponsored by 
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1:30 pm - Overview of the Global Livestock Industry: Poultry, Swine, Beef and Dairy
 Steven Sothmann, Director of International Affairs, American Meat Institute
Our trade expert will address the likely supply and demand forecasts for global poultry, swine, beef and dairy sectors as well trends production that will affect these animal protein sectors over the coming years.
- What are the major challenges facing global animal protein production over the next three years?
- How will demand for animal protein in developing markets change over the next three years and what will this mean for the use of and global trade in feed ingredients?
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2:15 pm - Panel: Supply and Demand Trends in the Global Feed Industry: Meeting World Protein and Energy Needs
 Moderator: Dr. J.E. van Eys, Principal, GANS, Inc.
Panelists:
 Dr. James E. Pettigrew, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois
 Dr. Francis L. Fluharty, Research Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University
 George Chamberlain, President, Global Aquaculture Alliance
With continued population growth in developing markets accompanied by rising GDP per capita, consumers in these markets are shifting their diets from grain to animal protein. This has increased the importance of animal protein production (livestock, poultry and aquaculture) and the global feed industry supplying the feed components required for animal protein production. Experts on animal nutrition will share their view on the following issues:
- What are developing trends in the use of ingredients for the production of animal feed?
- How will changes in the availability of key ingredients affect formulations and the cost of feeding animals over the next three years?
- What new technologies and managerial approaches are being harnessed to increase feed efficiencies and lower costs per unit of production of animal protein?
- What new technologies and approaches to formulating feed are likely to be introduced into the market over the next three years
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3:15 pm - Coffee Break, Sponsored by 
With a special presentation by 
Importance of proper sampling for mycotoxin and GMO detection.
Romer Labs will talk about mycotoxins and GMOs and explain how proper sampling is crucial for their detection in various commodities. Romer Labs will also discuss what test kits and analytical services are available once proper sampling is obtained.
Romer Labs products and services are sold in over 45 countries around the world. www.romerlabs.com
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3:45 pm - U.S. Farm Policy and its Impact on Global Agriculture
The U.S. Farm Bill, which will undoubtedly bring changes to U.S. agriculture will also affect on global agriculture. A Washington insider will provide his perspective on the likely scenarios which will result from passage of the new U.S. Farm Bill.
- How will the new U.S. farm bill affect U.S. and global agricultural markets for ag commodities?
- What actions should participants in the supply chain consider pursuing in order to minimize their exposure to government policies and regulations?
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4:30 pm - Panel: Impact of Global Shipping Trends on Global Trade Flows
Moderator
 William Devens, Managing Director, HighQuest Partners
Panelists:
 Ed Zaninelli, Vice President – Westbound Trade, OOCL
 Lars-Peter Madsen, CEO, AEC
The global bulk marine market has experienced dramatic volatility over the past four years, which have had an impact on the flow of trade and the cost of transporting agricultural commodities to destination markets. Our panel of industry leaders will discuss the likely scenario in the market for the next three years.
- What are the key trends currently affecting the global bulk marine market?
- How has the severe slump in bulk rates changed trade flows over the past three years and how are rates likely to evolve over the next three years?
- How are these trends likely to affect the competitiveness of different origins into key destination markets?
5:30pm Cocktail Reception, sponsored by
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| FOOD AND HEALTHY OILS |
8:30 am - Assessing the Future of Non-GMO and Other Specialty Crops and Their Impact on Global Trade Patterns
 Peter Golbitz, Director of International Business Development, SunOpta
While demand for Non-GMO and other specialty crops is here to stay, what remains to be seen is how large the demand for specialty crops will grow and what impact it is likely to have on the global commodity market.
- Will new crops with specialty, output traits provide sufficient customer value and volume demand to justify the investment in an IP value chain?
- Which destination markets in terms of applications and geographies represent attractive opportunities for specialty crops?
- How can use of containerized shipping support the development of IP value chains globally?
- What other developments in the transportation and logistics sector are expected to benefit the adoption and growth of specialty crops?
9:15 am - New Approaches to Addressing Food Safety in the Global Food Supply Chain
 Paul Chang, Program Director, WW Industry Solutions, IBM
New technologies are playing an increasingly pivotal role in monitoring the agri-food supply chain and ensuring food safety for supply chains that circle the globe.
- What new strategies and technologies are being introduced into the supply chain in order to enhance food safety?
- What is being done by industry to introduce best practices with regard to food safety?
- Which segments within the supply chain and which geographic markets are leading the way in terms of enhancing food safety?
10:00 am - Coffee Break
10:30 am - Panel: Trends in Vegetable Oil Usage for Food, Fuel and Industrial Applications
Panelists:
 David Dzisiak, Global Leader Healthy Oils, Dow AgroSciences
 Gerald McNeill, Vice President – Research and Development, Loders Croklaan North America
 Rodney Perry, Vice President – Bunge Food & Ingredients, Bunge North America
While protein derived from oilseed processing has historically accounted for the great share of margin contribution, the oil leg has recently increased its share of contribution to the oilseed crush margin as demand from food, biodiesel and industrial applications increase. The three panelists will present their perspective on the range of market opportunities that this trend presents.
- How are consumer preferences shaping the way vegetable oils are used in food, biofuel and industrial product applications?
- Which innovations in the use of bio-based materials are likely to have the greatest impact on crop demand?
- How are specialty varieties such as high oleic soybeans likely to affect the production and processing of generic soybeans as well as the demand for palm oil?
- What new applications are expected to develop for veg oils over the next three years?
11:30 am - New Seed Biotechnology Traits: Addressing the Needs of Growers, Processors, End-Users, and Consumers
 Susan Knowlton, Senior Research Manager, Dupont Pioneer Research & Development
DuPont,a leader in the biotech seed industry, has focused on developing novel traits for major crops which address the needs of both growers,processors and ultimately end-users, whether they be food manufacturers,food service providers and/or retail consumers. Based on their extensive research and commercial experience, the following issues will be addressed:
- What are the most promising output traits currently in the pipelines of major biotech companies and how will they benefit end-users and consumers alike?
- What value can be derived from output traits and how will they impact food and industrial markets?
- What real world impediments do seed companies encounter when commercializing traits of this kind
12:15 pm - Lunch, Sponsored by 
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FEED
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1:45 pm - Expectation for the 2012 U.S. Soybean Harvest
Via a live and interactive video link, attendees will have the opportunity to view the current soybean crop at a representative sampling of farms in central Illinois as well as questions growers and crop experts located in the field about expected volumes and quality of the 2012 U.S.soybean crop.
Moderated by:
 Craig Ratajczyk, Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Soybean Association
 Dan Uppena, Area Manager, DuPont Pioneer will serve as technical expert in the field!
 Rob Shaffer, Farmer and ISA District 6 Director, will be leading the discussion from the field!
Hosted by, 
2:45 pm - Prospects for Global Aquaculture Production and its Impact on Demand for Feed Ingredients
George Chamberlain, President, Global Aquaculture Alliance
Consumer demand for fish protein continues to increase at a fast pace in both developed and developing markets. Our industry expert will address the growth potential for this industry and the impact its growth is likely to have on the global feed industry and its need for ingredients.
- Which regions are expected to experience the strongest growth in aquaculture production?
- How is this growth likely to affect demand for feed ingredients?
- How is the aquaculture industry dealing with the decreasing supply of fish meal derived from wild catches?
- What opportunities does growth in global aquaculture create for sellers of ag commodities and feed ingredients?
3:30 pm - New Sources of Vegetable Proteins for Feed and Their Competitiveness with Soybean Meal
 Dr. Glen Broderick, Research Dairy Scientist - US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
While protein meal derived from canola and other oilseeds and DDGS currently play an increasingly significant role in the animal feed industry, it remains unclear how any of these protein sources will compete with soybean meal in the near to medium term.
- What nutritional and other benefits do these protein ingredients provide?
- How will these new sources of protein affect the global oilseed crushing industry?
- How are government mandates for biodiesel and ethanol likely to affect the availability of different protein ingredients?
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PRODUCTION
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8:30 am - Implications of Water Scarcity on Global Agricultural Production
 Dr. Andrew Bell, Senior Researcher, International Food Policy Research Institute
Climate change is affecting access to water resources for agricultural production, resulting in constraining critical access to water for major crops. It is increasingly necessary that industry and government collaborate to address these impending challenges. Our expert will address:
- How and where is climate change likely to affect access to water resources for agricultural production?
- What technological advances can be brought to bear to address constraints and in access to water for agricultural production?
- What role are government regulations likely to play in determining access to water for agricultural production?
9:15 am - The Impact of Climate and Weather on Agricultural Production
 Bryce Anderson, Senior Ag Meteorologist, DTN/Progressive Farmer
Whether or not one accepts the premise of global warming, the general consensus is that we are facing a period of increased volatility in the weather which increases risks for crop production, and raises the following questions:
- How are changes in global climate and weather affecting global and regional agricultural production?
- What tools exist to ensure that agricultural production continues to increase in order to meet growing demand and to mitigate operating risk for those businesses that have exposure to the crop sector?
10:00 am - Coffee Break
10:30 am - Maximizing Production Potential With Advanced Technologies and Agronomic Practices
 Dr. Phil Miller, Vice President, Global Regulatory Affaris and Sciences, Monsanto
New biotech traits imbedded in seeds combined with the adoption of novel agronomic practices and new technologies are expected to address the slowing yield increases for major row crops. Monsanto, which has demonstrated its leadership in enhancing productivity in crop production, will share its perspective on how crop production efficiencies are likely to evolve over the next five years and how this will affect the supply of major crops.
- What new technologies and agronomic practices are being harnessed to ensure that crop yields continue to increase?
- How widespread are these new tools being adopted and what type of return do they provide producers and the supply chain?
- What changes can we expect to see within over the next three years that will affect field productivity and have a major impact on the supply of key row crops?
11:30 am - Panel: Procurement Issues in the Agri-Food Value Chain
 Moderator: Nelson Neale, Market Strategist, Land O'Lakes
Panelists:
 | Jeff Haas, Procurement & Commodity Risk Management Executive
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 Randy Masterman, Senior Commodity Risk Management, Kraft Foods
 G.B. Sundararajan, Managing Director, Suguna Foods Ltd
Agribusiness and food companies are continually facing challenges in procuring ag commodities and food ingredients. Our panel of industry leaders will address those challenges and explore potential solutions.
- What are the challenges that agribusiness and food companies face when procuring ag commodities and food ingredients?
- What effective strategies are they employing to ensure that they can source the quantities of materials they require for their business at price levels which they can absorb?
- What is the marketplace for ag commodities going to look like within the next three years?
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PROCESSING
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1:45 pm - Panel: Trends in the Global Oilseed and Grain Value Chain
 Moderator: Jim Sutter, CEO, US Soybean Export Council (USSEC)
Panelists:
 Mark VanEmon, Vice President and Commercial Manager - Oilseed Division, EGT LLC
 Matthew Jansen, Senior Vice President and President, Oilseeds Business Unit, ADM
 Mr. Chandra Arifin Injo, Manager, PT FKS Multi Agro Tbkior
 Tony Freiji, CEO and Partner, WADI Group
A key element in assuring that global demand for oilseed, feed grains and derivative products is met will be determined by how efficiently these crops are handled, transported and processed – from origin to final consumption in destination markets. Representatives of key players in these markets will discuss the challenges and opportunities they are facing in their respective markets.
- How will shifts in crop production determine which origins are competitive for export to key destination markets?
- How are current trends in marine shipping and port infrastructure development in the U.S. and South America going to affect the industry and where these companies are likely to invest in the future?
- How is the expansion of the Panama Canal likely to affect competition between North and South America for key crops?
2:45 pm - Trends in U.S. Ethanol Production and Impact on Global DDG Availability
 Jim Ringo, President, POET Nutrition
- As the production of the U.S. ethanol industry meets the 15 billion gallons of corn-derived ethanol mandated by the U.S. government, what impact will this have on the supply of DDGS?
- As the RFS mandate shifts focus to the production of non-conventional biofuels what impact is this likely to have on the availability of DDGS for both domestic and export markets?
3:30 pm - PANEL: New Developments in Commodity Processing Technology
Moderator:
 Mike Masterovsky, Director of Client Engagement, HighQuest Partners
Panelists:
 Ted Neuman, North American Marketing Manager for Oils and Fats Processing, GEA Mechanical Equipment US Inc—Westfalia Separator Division
 Chas Teeter, Product Sales Manager R&D, Crown Iron Works Company
 Walter Farr, President, Walter E Farr and Associates
In addition to questions concerning the available supply of major oilseeds in order to meet growing demand, new developments in processing technologies are expected to increase the yield and value of a wide range of crop value chains. Our panel of industry experts will discuss what is being done at the processing end to address the demand for larger volumes of higher value-added ingredients.
- What novel technologies are being developed and adopted to improve processing efficiencies for agricultural commodities?
- How are these new technologies likely to reduce processing costs and improve production yields?
- What impact will they have on the entire value chain?
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TRADE FINANCING
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8:30 am - Panel: Global Trends in Trade Financing Along the Ag Supply Chain
Moderator:
Philippe de Lapérouse, Director, Global Food and Agribusiness, HighQuest Partners
Panelists:
 Jonathan Logan, Executive Vice President – Corporate Agribusiness Banking Group, CoBank
 Michael Pistilli, Director of Commodity Traders & Agribusiness, Standard Chartered Bank
 Lingling Luo, Regional Manager for Agricultural Trade for Greater China, Wells Fargo Bank
With some of the European banks which were traditional leaders in trade financing having to curtail their activities in the sector due to the Euro Zone crisis, which banks are likely to fill the vacuum and what does this mean for sellers and buyers of soft commodities during a period of increased activity particularly in developing markets?
- Where can merchandisers and buyers turn to in order to finance their trading of agricultural commodities?
- What new financing techniques are available to sellers and buyers of commodities in order to facilitate trade?
9:15 am - Panel: How to Leverage Innovative Financing Techniques for Trade Financing
Moderator:
 Ron Marshall, Engagement Manager, HighQuest Partners
Panelists:
Darren Muller, Managing Director, Macquarie
 Greg J. Bernardi, President, London Forfaiting
- How can innovative financing techniques such as forfaiting and repos be used by sellers and buyers to finance trade and enhance their risk management?
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RISK MANAGEMENT
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10:30 am - Panel: Practical Perspectives on Risk Management
Moderator:
 David Lehman, Managing Director - Commodity Research and Product Development, CME Group
Panelists:
 Kurt Collins, Senior Director of Commodity Risk Management, Unified Foodservice Purchasing Cooperative (UFPC)
Nelson Neale, Market Strategist, Land O'Lakes
 Elizabeth Hund, Senior Vice President and Division Head, U. S. Bank Food Industries
 Maria Jose Capelle, Commercial Manager Grains & Softs, Adecoagro
A panel of executives with practical experience managing risk along the supply chain will share their experiences and perspectives as to how to mitigate risk exposure with ag commodities.
- Given the trend of increased price volatility in ag commodities, what strategies can producers, merchandisers and buyers of commodities use to mitigate their risk?
- How should these participants in the supply chain work with providers of risk management tools?
- What should they expect their risk management advisors to provide in terms of services and support?
- How widespread are risk management techniques being adopted in the agricultural value chain?
11:30 am - New Options For Managing Grain and Oilseed Price Risk
David Lehman, Managing Director - Commodity Research and Product Development, CME Group
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange is a leading exchange for trading futures and options contracts to serve the risk management needs of customers around the globe. It provides a wide range of benchmark futures and options products for the agricultural sector.
- What new risk management tools have been launched by CME Group to enable participants in the grain and oilseed supply chain mitigate risk?
- How can options play a role in managing weather and event risk, inventory and seasonality risk and new crop risk?
- How can cleared grain/oilseed swaps under the new Dodd Frank Act rules play aid in risk management?
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TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION
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1:45 pm - PANEL: Improving Commodity Transportation Efficiency
Moderator:
 Willie Vogt, Corporate Edit Director, Farm Progress
Panelists:
 Joseph Alagna, Vice President for U.S. Sales, China Shipping
 Paul Rohde, Vice President, Waterways Council, Inc.
 Matthew Bosch, Senior Product Manager - Marketing and Sales, Union Pacific
The cost of transporting crops and feed ingredients is a key component of the final cost of these products for end users. The availability of cost-efficient transportation between origin and destination markets is a key determinant of the competitiveness of different origins and will determine trade flows. Our panel of experts will address current developments in the transportation sector that will affect the trade of key commodities.
- How will announced infrastructure improvement projects in the U.S. likely impact commodity exports from the U.S.?
- What investments in transportation infrastructure are needed in order to increase efficiencies in the ag value chain?
- What current projects show the most promise for improving ag transportation and infrastructure?
- How can U.S. ag exporters better serve their Chinese customers by transporting their product closer to the inland clients, who had previously needed to work with bulk shipments from ports of discharge?
2:45 pm - Effect of Investment in Port Facilities on New Origin and Destination Markets
 John Vickerman, President, Vickerman and Associates, LLC
Major investments are being made in ports at both origin and destination markets. Understanding where investments are being made will enable participants in the supply chain to better understand how they can compete in this market.
- What major ports around the world are currently benefiting from investments in infrastructure?
- How will these infrastructure investments affect trade flows of ag commodities and will they result in the emergence of new origins and new destination markets?
3:30 pm - Panel: Outlook for Global Container Shipping
Moderator:
 Byron Stewart, Engagement Manager, HighQuest Partners
Panelists:
 Ken Uriu, Marketing Manager, Port of Long Beach
 Jack Mahoney, Trade Management Director, Maersk Line
The volume of crops and feed ingredients transported by containers was relatively inconsequential in 2008 and was largely relegated to specialty and IP crops. While the shift in trade flows has had a somewhat dampening effect on containerized shipping of commodities within the past two years, this mode of shipping as an alternative has become widely adopted on a global basis. Our experts will address prospects for containerized shipping in the years ahead.
- What are the current trends in the global container-shipping sector?
- How will the container chassis ownership model continue to evolve?
- What is containerized shipping of crops and feed ingredients likely to look like within the next three years?
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