Sep 11, 2018
Clif Bar ag director to keynote Organic, non-GMO Forum
Matthew Dillon, senior director of agricultural policy and programs for Clif Bar, will be the keynote speaker at Organic & Non-GMO Forum, to be held Oct. 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.
Clif Bar, the pioneering food company that introduced the first certified organic energy bar, has been in business for more than 20 years. In his presentation “Organic: At the Center of Clif Bar’s Vision,” Dillon will expound on the company’s Five Aspirations Business Model, which guides its day-to-day operations and long-term decisions. Through this focus on sustaining its Business, Brands, People, Communities and the Planet, the company, which has purchased nearly 900 million pounds of organic ingredients since 2003, has seen a 10-year compounded annual growth rate of 17 percent and leads its category with a 31 percent market share.
“Clif Bar believes in the power of business to drive more than profits, and the potential of food to do more than just feed us,” said Dillon. “We are guided by our five aspirations as we craft energy foods that have a positive impact on our health, our communities and the planet. For decades, organic has been at the center of that vision, and we have worked to create long-term value for farmers through organic sourcing, research and investment funds.”
Joining Dillon as speakers at the forum will be several other industry experts, such as Tony Michaels, CEO of Midwestern BioAg; Ken Dallmier, President and COO of Clarkson Grain Company; and Emma Weston, CEO of AgriDigital. Topics to be covered include fraud, pricing, regulations, certifications, producers’ perspectives, investment in organic acres and much more.
There also will be a short course, “Understanding What You’re Buying: A Procurement Manager’s Guide”, which will provide an overview of the basic principles used in mechanical extrusion and expelling of raw materials into value-added food, feed and specialty ingredients. Also at this event are the not-to-be-missed connections made with producers, manufacturers, processers, buyers and others along the supply chain who propel this sector forward.
