Ag Future: Innovation in Agri-Food

Is it true that training horses too early can hurt their chances on race day? Brian Nielsen, professor of equine exercise physiology in the department of animal science at Michigan State University, joins the Ag Future podcast to dispel the myth that waiting to train horses improves their odds of winning. 

As a result of the pandemic, the homemade meal is seeing a long-overdue resurgence. Kiersten Hafer, vice president of strategy and domestic market development for the National Pork Board, joins Ag Future to discuss how consumer demand for pork has expanded beyond bacon as people seek to refine their culinary skills.

What role does diet play in the performance of highly active sporting, military and other working canines? Ian Donovan, former Green Beret and national channel manager for Kinetic Performance Dog Food, joins Ag Future to discuss the importance of supporting both the physical and mental readiness of these high-energy dogs.

Peter & Paula Hynes are dairy farmers from County Cork, Ireland. In 2020, the couple founded #AgMentalHealthWeek to raise awareness of mental health issues prevalent in agriculture. Peter and Paula join the Ag Future podcast to discuss this year's theme of intentionally disconnecting from our devices and the farm.

Is work-life balance obtainable? Cheya Thousand, founder and CEO of CT. Wellness Co., joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss how burnout impacts leaders, employees and parents and to share her strategies for hitting the reset button to mitigate stress, feel better and move on productively.

How can dairy producers overcome labor shortages? Dr. Luke Miller, dairy technical support specialist at Alltech, joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss how dairy farms can attract, train and retain labor, as well as his thoughts on the future of hiring as dairies adopt more automation in their operations.

Beta Bugs Ltd. is an insect genetics company developing and distributing black soldier fly breeds to the insect farming sector. Dr. Thomas Farrugia, CEO of Beta Bugs Ltd., joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss how this ag-tech startup is using genetics to increase the size and survivability of black soldier flies in order to meet the growing demand for insect protein in aqua, pig and poultry feed.

Why should beef and dairy producers consider organic trace minerals? Laurentia Van Rensburg, technical mineral manager at Alltech, joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss how including organic trace minerals in maternal diets affects female cattle and their progeny.

Are human health trends carrying over to the pet food industry? Nicole Hill, executive director of strategy at MarketPlace, joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss how trends in human nutrition related to issues like gut health, immunity, fiber and cognitive health are making their way to pet store shelves as the line between pet and family member blurs. 

Traditionally, fishmeal and fish oil made from wild-caught fish have been the primary sources of protein and fat in fish feed for aquaculture. However, these raw materials will not be enough for production to meet the demand in 2050 if the current feed formulation stays the same. Maud Valkenaars, nutritional researcher at Alltech Coppens, joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss new initiatives in the aquaculture industry that aim to replace traditional protein sources in aquafeeds with sustainable sources of raw materials.