About

A Unique Opportunity
The Organizing Committee
Giving Back
Keynote Speaker and Topics
Agenda

"Following the success of the sold-out 2011 Ag Summit, we are excited to present a second annual event with stimulating issues and exceptional speakers that will be valuable to all individuals affiliated with food and agriculture in California."
–California Ag Summit organizing committee

A Unique Opportunity

The 2012 California Ag Summit offers sponsors, attendees and presenters a unique opportunity to:

Create and participate in a dynamic, insightful daylong event dedicated to preserving and enhancing the vitality of the California agricultural industry;
Meet some of the key players whose innovative thinking is helping to shape the future of the food and agriculture industry;
Network with producers, corporate and community leaders, and educators in a pleasant setting on the University of California, Davis campus.

Each year, summit topics will keep pace with the significant forces that are influencing California's growers, ranchers, affiliated agricultural companies and organizations. Stimulating speakers will present their views, ideas and strategies for present-day and the future.

The 2012 Ag Summit is expected to draw 300-400 individuals from all over California. The event will be funded primarily with cash contributions from corporate sponsors who recognize that the event offers targeted marketing, branding and relationship-building opportunities. Funds will also be generated from registration fees.

The Organizing Committee

The California Ag Summit organizing committee consists of individuals with many years of work and volunteer experience in the agriculture industry. They represent the following entities:

Ag-Seeds Unlimited
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
California Cattlemen's Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
Monsanto
Moss Adams
Pacific Coast Producers
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Simplot Grower Solutions
Union Bank, N.A.
Van Ruiten Law Corporation
Wilbur-Ellis Company
Yara North America

As additional sponsors come on board, representatives from those companies and organizations will be encouraged to join the organizing committee.

Giving Back

Each year, net proceeds from the Ag Summit will help support designated nonprofit agricultural education and agricultural leadership programs in California.

Keynote Speaker and Topics

This year's keynote speaker is John Hofmeister, retired president of Shell Oil Company and the founder and chief executive of Citizens for Affordable Energy. Mr. Hofmeister is one of the world's leading experts on energy and climate.

Sessions will focus on the following topics:

Session 1
Global Food Trends: Production to Consumption

How does California agriculture match up?

Session 2
Energy and Agriculture: Positioning Agriculture for the Future

What is the future of energy production in the U.S. and the world, and how will it impact California agriculture?

Session 3
Social Media: Its Growing Role and Importance in Agriculture

From marketing to consumer education to crisis management, what are the social media trends and how will they influence agriculture?

Agenda

Schedule subject to change.

8:30 a.m. Registration opens

Coffee Service

9:30 a.m. Welcome

10-11:30 a.m. Session I: Global Food Trends

Dr. Daniel Sumner, Director, UC Agricultural Issues Center

Download Powerpoint (PPTx, 3.2 MB)

Dr. Alex McCalla, Professor Emeritus, Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis

Download Powerpoint (PPTx, 574 KB)

Army Col. Cheryl Smart, Asst. Professor, National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Download Presentation (PDF, 2 MB)

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Keynote Speaker Presentation

John Hofmeister, Former president, Shell Oil Company

12:15-1:00 p.m. Buffet Luncheon

1:00-1:20 p.m. Jack Gallagher

1:20-2:50 p.m. Session II: Energy and Agriculture

Duane F. Larson, Director of Energy Efficiency Strategy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company