Posted on September, 7, 2018 at 09:57 am
By Susan Reidy
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Roger Watchorn, group leader at Cargill Agriculture Supply North America, will be the keynote speaker for Export Exchange, planned Oct. 22-24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
The Exchange brings together international buyers and U.S. sellers of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDSG) as well as other feed grain products. It is sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).
It is expected to attract nearly 500 attendees, including 200 from 30 countries participating as part of USGC trade teams.
Watchorn and his team are responsible for setting the culture and strategic direction for the domestic and export grain, oilseed processing, crop inputs, biodiesel, and Cargill Marine & Terminals businesses in Canada, the United States and Mexico. His remarks will focus on the achievements and challenges of the supply chain for U.S. coarse grains and co-products in today’s trade environment.
“Mr. Watchorn will bring a fresh perspective to Export Exchange, on the burgeoning international grains market and the trends and future of it from the supply chain perspective,” said Jim Stitzlein, chairman of the USGC. “We look forward to hosting him and getting his unique insight into the industry.”
Previously, Watchorn was president and business unit leader for Cargill’s Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain in North America (GOSCNA) and held various merchandising and management positions with GOSCNA in western Canada, North Dakota and Kansas before joining the company’s animal nutrition division in Warsaw, Poland, in 2008.
“DDGS and other co-products are a vitally important part of the global feed market and provide a value-added market for the U.S. ethanol industry,” said Bob Dinneen, president and chief executive officer of the RFA. “In fact, nearly one out of every three tons of distillers grains produced last year was exported. The Export Exchange will help connect producers and marketers of these co-products with users around the globe.”
Speakers at Export Exchange will address critical issues facing U.S. agricultural exports, offering the customers and sellers in attendance an increased awareness of the benefits of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including DDGS.
The conference’s speaker line-up will also include the following speakers:
• Dr. Robert Johansson — USDA chief economist, will speak about the USDA’s 10-year outlook for coarse grains.
• Florentino Lopez — United Sorghum Checkoff Program executive director, will review the current status of the sorghum industry.
• Kelly Davis — vice-president, regulatory affairs, RFA, will discuss the importance of food safety plans in a session entitled Food Safety Regulations for Manufacturers of DDGS.
• Phil Smith — nutritionist, Tyson Foods, will share the latest news on DDGS nutrition, feed formulation and research.
• Bill Holbrook — senior analyst, ProExporter, will give an update on the production supply and demand of U.S. DDGS in a session called DDGS Outlook, Challenges and Opportunities.
More information is available at www.exportexchange.org.
Source: WORLD-GRAIN.COM