Speakers
Speaker profiles will be made available as they are announced. For more information contact Veronica Newson at Project4 Marketing via veronicanewson@project-4.com.
William Martin |  |
William farms a 1000-acre family farm in Cambridgeshire Fens, near Ely, growing combinable crops and sugar beet. He has a degree in French from Cambridge University and is BASIS qualified.
Formerly Chairman of his local NFU Branch, County and East Anglian Regional Board, William has been a member of the NFU Sugar Beet Committee since 2001. He was elected to the NFU Sugar Board in 2004, became Vice Chairman in 2006 and has been Chairman since 2008. William is Chairman of his local Internal Drainage Board and Chairman of a group of farmers co-operatively purchasing agronomy advice. William is also Vice Chairman of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG).
In his spare time William enjoys cycling and playing the guitar. July 2009
Dr Richard Cottrell |  |
Richard Cottrell has been Director General of the World Sugar Research Organisation since 2004, specializing in the nutrition and health aspects of sugar consumption in humans. Until 2008 he was also Director of The Sugar Bureau in London. Prior to joining the Bureau in 1993, he held senior appointments at the Leatherhead Food Research Association (1989-1993) and the British Nutrition Foundation (1984-1989). From 1971-1984 he was engaged in research into the origins of cancer and a number of toxicological issues, first at University College London and later at the British Industrial Biological Research Association. He graduated with First Class honours in Chemistry from University College London and went on to a PhD in Biological Chemistry and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry.
He is widely known as a speaker on nutrition and health aspects of sugar and on the reliability and policy implications of research in this area. He is a Registered Public Health Nutritionist and a Fellow of the Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Public Health and the Institute of Food Science and Technology. He has published numerous scientific and popular articles on nutrition, obesity and toxicology and edited four books.
Dr Peter Baron |  |
Dr. Peter Baron was educated in Germany where he took a degree in Agricultural Economics and Policy. From 1967-1971 he was a junior lecturer at the Technical University, Munich.
From 1972-1993 he served in the Germany Government at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in Bonn. His responsibilities covered agricultural commodities, i.e. cereals, sugar, cocoa, bananas and wine. In this capacity he represented Germany at many multilateral trade and commodity conferences (GATT, WTO, UNCTAD, UN, FAO, OECD).
From 1973-1980 he chaired the German-Turkish Steering Committee on Cooperation in Agriculture. He served for eight years as spokesman for the Cocoa Producing Countries. In 1988/89 he was Chairman of the International Grains Council and in 1989/90 Chairman of the International Cocoa Council. In 1992 he chaired the United Nations Sugar Conference in Geneva which led to the present International Sugar Agreement, 1992.
In January 1994 he was appointed Executive Director of the International Sugar Organization. During his term in office membership increased from 39 to 84 countries. This makes the ISO the biggest commodity organization worldwide.
In October 2006 Dr. Peter Baron was elected as “International Personality 2006 in the category – Sugar” by MasterCana, Brazil, for his efforts to further a sustainable, driving and dynamic sugarcane agro industry and to ensure enhanced international cooperation in world sugar matters.
Alain Jeanroy |  |
Born February 22, 1955 in Coucy (Ardennes) Jeanroy Alain started his career in 1980 at the FNSEA then the CGB in 1982 as Chief Economist and Deputy Director. Director of the Association des Producteurs de Maïs (AGPM), and the Fédération des Producteurs de Semences de Maïs et de Sorgho (FNPSMS) from 1990 to 1993, he is now Director General of CGB since 1993, as well as S2B (Société de Services des Betteraviers).
Alain has many key economic French, European and global links with the sugar beet and ethanol. He has also, since January 2005, been responsible for coordinating the development of production and use of bioethanol in France, representing the interests of the sectors involved: beets (CGB), cereals (AGPB) and corn (AGPM).
Volker Utesch |  |
Volker Utesch is currently Director of KWS’ sugar beet business across N Europe. Prior to this he was commercial manager of the breeder’s UK-based operation.
Volker also has a extensive knowledge of the biogas industry; KWS is one of the leading suppliers of purpose-bred material for efficient bio-digester operation.
His academic qualifications include an agricultural engineering degree from Humboldt University and an MPhil in Land Economy from Cambridge University.
Elisabeth Lacoste |  |
Elisabeth Lacoste is an agronomist and Doctor of industrial economics. After experience as a researcher, specialising in agricultural policy and market regulations, she worked for a European food company and as a consultant on world agricultural commodities markets. Since 2006 she has been General Secretary of the International Confederation of European Beet Growers (CIBE) based in Brussels.
CIBE- The International Confederation of European Beet Growers – is the representative organisation at European level for the sugar beet sector for around 400 000 beet growers from 18 EU sugar beet producing countries, as well as Switzerland and Turkey. It defends the interest of beet growers by collecting and exchanging information as well as by drawing up common positions on fundamental issues such as EU policy on sugar, biofuels, trade and the environment.
Dr Alison Boyd |  |
Appointed Director of The Sugar Bureau in 2007, and before that held the position of Research Director since 2001. Previously worked as a Senior Dietitian at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where she specialized in Nutrition Support for the critically ill. Alison is a member of the British Dietetic Association, Nutrition Society, Diabetes UK and European Association for the Study of Diabetes. She sits on the Scientific and Communications Committee of the World Sugar Research Organisation.
Nick Sinner |  |
Nick Sinner is the Executive Director of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association which is based in Fargo, ND. He has held this position for the past 6 years. Mr. Sinner received his BS in Accounting from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN. After graduation, he was a part of a family farming partnership with his Father, Uncle and Brother in the Casselton, ND area for 20 years. Nick and his wife Chris have been married for 27 years and have 4 children: Matt (24), Pat (22), Ben (19), and Anne (17).
The Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association was incorporated in 1954. It’s membership is made up of the approximately 2900 grower owners of The American Crystal Sugar Company. The purpose of the Association is to represent the membership in legislative issues on both a national as well as a statewide basis. The organization is governed by an Executive Committee made up of two representatives from each of the 5 Factory Districts, plus the Chairman.
Geraldine Gilmartin |  |
Geraldine Gilmartin has been with Kingsman for four years as a senior analyst, focusing on ethanol and ETBE markets. Geraldine previously had over 10 years’ experience with Reed Business Information covering global commodity petrochemical markets. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in International Relations with French from the University of Reading. She is based in London.
Kingsman advises many of the world’s sugar and biofuels producers and industrial users, as well as banks, trading houses, oil companies, private equity and hedge funds.
Colm McKay |  |
Colm McKay started his career with British Sugar in 1984 and has held a number of agriculture and operational roles within the organisation. He is now Agriculture Director at British Sugar UK with responsibility for areas including beet procurement, co-product sales and the company’s horticulture operations.
Colm is an Agriculture Graduate of Leeds University.
British Sugar UK is a leading supplier to the UK and Ireland food and beverage markets. The sole processor of the UK sugar beet crop it produces 1.2 million tonnes of sugar in its 4 factories from 7 million tonnes of sugar beet.
Geo Govinden |  |
985 to date: Overseas Representative of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture and of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate.
I am a member and adviser of the Mauritius official delegation both in Brussels and Geneva.In this capacity, I have been directly involved in all negotiations regarding ACP-EU cooperation (Lome 4, Cotonou and EPA Agreements). I thus, inter alia, participate in ACP and ACP-EU Council of Ministers.
I am also actively involved in the WTO work (primarily in the agricultural sector). Have participated in all 7 WTO Ministerial meetings (Singapore, Geneva, Seattle, Doha, Cancun, Hong Kong and Geneva) and currently participating in the ongoing negotiations.
I am also a Member of Mauritius on the International Sugar Organisation (ISO) Council.
The Mauritius Sugar Syndicate (MSS) is the sole sugar marketing organisation in Mauritius. It has for object the sale of all sugar received by it for the account of its members and the distribution of such sale. All sugar producers are members of MSS . The primary objective of MSS is to optimise producer revenue. Mauritian sugar producers enjoy the benefits of economies of scale which such an organisation in a small island State can bring about.
Vincent Godier |  |
Vincent GODIER is head of Soft Commodities and Agriculture for Crédit Agricole CIB. He graduated from the French National Institute of Agronomy in 1988. He is still co-managing the family grain and sugar beet farm in Fay-lès-Marcilly (Aube). After 10 years at Crédit Lyonnais where he held various trading and management positions within the Equity Derivatives Group, he joined Credit Lyonnais Rouse Derivatives as head of the Energy Option Group in 2001. In 2003, he joined NM Rothschild & Sons as a Director of the board, head of energy Trading. From 2005 to 2007 he was a partner of a hedge fund trading equity and commodity volatility. Early 2008, he joined back Crédit Agricole CIB, in charge of building the agricultural commodities hedging capabilities within the FIM Commodities Products line.
Ian Ballantyne |  |
Ian James Ballantyne is the Chief Executive Officer for CANEGROWERS in Brisbane and was appointed to this position in April 1991.
Prior to his appointment with CANEGROWERS, Mr Ballantyne was Chief Executive Officer of the North Queensland Enterprise Zone Corporation. He was previously a senior officer with 23 years’ service in the Australian Army, which included a period as commanding officer of an Operational Deployment Force Battalion.
Mr Ballantyne has travelled extensively in the interests of the sugar industry and has been active in trade, marketing and management forums, both nationally and internationally.
Mr Ballantyne represents CANEGROWERS on various committees. He is Deputy Chairman of AustSafe Super and of CANEGROWERS’ commercial subsidiaries - Financial Services and Superannuation companies - and is also a Director of Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia Limited. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He is a past Director of the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation Board of Advice.
Mr Ballantyne (62) is a graduate of the Royal Military College (UNSW) Duntroon, in Arts (Economics), The University of Queensland in Commerce, and the Australian Staff College. He is married with one daughter and two sons.
Lars Hoelgaard |  |
Lars Hoelgaard is Deputy Director General in Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Commission since 2004. He is in charge of the Directorates C (Economics of agricultural markets and CMO) and D (Direct support, market measures, promotion). In EU jargon this is called Pillar I of the CAP with Rural Development being Pillar II. From 2002-2004 he was Director for Markets in livestock products, specialised crops and wine. From 1997 to 2002 he was Director for Markets in crop products. From 1989 to 1997 he was Director for Public, animal and plant health. As such he was in charge of the legislation in relation to Agriculture and the creation of the Single Market in 1992 and subsequent implementation. After his graduation in Economics from the University in Copenhagen in 1974, he started his career in the Ministry of Agriculture in Denmark. From 1980 to 1983 he was Agricultural Counsellor at the Danish Permanent Representation to the EC in Brussels. After his return to the Ministry, he took up a position as Assistant Secretary in charge of general EC-affairs and Danish Spokesman in the Special Committee for Agriculture, a position he held until joining the European Commission in 1989.
Leandro Martinho |  |
Leandro Martinho is an agronomist specialist in crop protection and biotechnology, conducted his studies in Brazil and in the USA. Has 12 years of experience in developing new technologies for Syngenta AG and in the last two years has lead the efforts for Research and Development of the Plene technology in Brazil. Currently is based in Basel Switzerland.
Plene (TM) concept is an evolutionary way of planting sugarcane to replace the current high cost path requiring heavy equipment and intensive labour. With Plene (TM), Syngenta developed a methodology of producing sugarcane one-budded setts treated with proprietary crop protection and coatings that allows germination, crop stand and vigour. This protocol associated with an industrial cutting and stalks treatment technologies and a lighter planting machine provides a dramatic improvement on planting operations, reducing the amount of seedling from 18 t of stalks to 1.5 t of Plene (TM) per hectare. This technology has the potential to simplify the planting process and represents a good strategy for sustainable sugarcane production.
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Syngenta employs more than 19,000 people on over 90 countries and invested around $ 1 billion in R&D in 2009.
Maria Christina Pacheco |  |
Brazilian, was born in June, 22 1947 in Capivari-SP. She was raised in the family's farm, that was bought by her great grandfather in 1889. In 1965 she married an American and moved to US. She has one son who gave her 3 grandchildren. After leaving in NE of Brazil, Niger-Africa, and Lima-Peru she move to Brasilia-Brazil and work as a computer analyst until 1985. Her father died and she had to transform herself into a farm. Since 1985 she runs the family's441 hectares sugarcane’s farm. In 1989 she was elected president of the Sugarcane Grower’s Association for the Capivari-SP region, and later she was elected Financial Director of Orplana - Organization of Sugarcane Grower’s for the CS region of Brazil, today she is Orplana, vice-president. Since 1998 is she a member of Consecana-SP, representing growers.
Orplana - Organizations of sugarcane grower's for Brazil central-south region- is an entity that has as objetives: the organization of growers, the technical knowledge, its responsabily before sociaty, markets and government. it is located in Piracicaba-SP, was founded im 1976 and today has 30 sugarcane association as members from the estates of São Paulo - Mato Grosso - Minas Gerais e Goias. Through CONSECANA's system define the price of sugarcane produce by the grower.
Armelle Elasri |  |
20 years in the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate working on medium term outlook projections and forward looking market and trade policy analysis with the AGLINK-COSIMO model, a model jointly developed by OECD and FAO Secretariats. Area of analysis: world sugar markets.
The OECD is an an inter-governmental organisation financed by its member countries (31 members), which has the mission to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of globalization.
Jean-Noel Evrard |  |
Jean-Noël Evrard is born in 1959 in Homblières, Aisne, France. In 1983, after receiving his diploma of Agricultural Engineer ISA Lille, he started his career at Mc Cain in France. In 1988, he has been engaged by VanderHave France as Sales Area Manager for sugar beet seeds. In 2004, he became International Marketing Assistant based in Belgium where he moved with his whole family.
Nowadays, he is Marketing Manager Worldwide of SESVANDERHAVE. As Marketing Manager, he needs to be in constant connection with all the markets in order to inform all the departments of the company (research and development, production and processing) to anticipate the future customers’ needs for the short and long term. He is also in charge with his team, to explore new markets for sugar beet seeds as in tropical areas.
SESVanderHave is specialised in every aspect of the production of sugar beet seeds. From developing new resistances and varieties through to the final seed processing in the factory, SESVanderHave maintains full control in every step of the process. We sell our customised sugar beet varieties in over fifty countries and are proud to be an international market leader in the sugar beet industry.
Martin Todd |  |
Martin Todd is Managing Director of LMC International, and is responsible for the company's extensive work in the sugar, starch and ethanol sectors. As well as directing projects for clients in the private and public sector, he oversees studies on industry production costs, technical performance and profitability. Before joining LMC in 1990, he worked for four years for an international trade house, where he managed the company's commodities research department.
LMC International has delivered in-depth specialist analysis to agribusiness around the world for the last 30 years. From crops to agro-industrial products, agricultural commodities to downstream end-uses, we provide global business intelligence and market analysis. We advise on issues of production and demand, raw materials, price forecasting, profitability, trade and policy.
George Mlingwa |  |
George was born in 1947 in Tanzania. His early education was undertaken in Tanzania and later moved to Kenya for his first degree in Civil Engineering in 1970. In 1973 George joined the University of Leeds in the UK where he obtained a Ph. D in Civil Engineering in 1978.
George's work experience started in 1970 as a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Water where he worked for three years before being seconded to the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering. His Tour at the University of Dar es Salaam ended in 1980 when he was appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania to establish the National Construction Council. In 1987 George was again appointed by the President to oversee the Construction of the New Capital of Tanzania, Dodoma. He was further appointed by the President in 1990 as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works Communication and Transport in Tanzania where he remained until retirement in March 1996.
On retirement George set up a sugarcane farming business in the Kilombero Valley where he also played an active role in the establishment of Tanzania Cane Growers Association (TASGA) in the year 2000 and has been its Chairman since its establishment. George is currently Chairman and Managing Director of Bulima Investment Company Ltd – a family business in sugarcane farming and farm services provider to smallholder cane farmers.
Patrick Lynch |  |
From a farming background, Patrick joined the European Biodiesel Board in 2007 and was closely involved in discussion around Europe’s Renewable Energy Directive, which mandates the use of biofuels across Europe and imposes mandatory sustainability criteria. He moved to Greenergy two years later as Biofuel Sustainability Manager. Today he implements Greenergy’s sustainability programmes in Brazil and elsewhere.
Cyril Moine |  |
After a Master Degree in Arts, Cyril Moine started his career as a trader in New York. He worked for 2 years at Commodity Specialist Company as responsible for the Caribbeans. Cyril joined Sucden in 2001 as a trader on the raw sugar desk. He specifically focused on Africa and the Middle East, supplying the main refiners of the region. It has been two years now that Cyril is the EU trade manager at Sucden, responsible for the intra EU sugar flows.
David King |  |
David King is Secretary General of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) - a worldwide farmers’ network of 112 national organisations. He is also Secretary General of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG). Mr. King participated in the first World Conference of Beet and Cane Growers in Mexico in 1981 and was the first Secretary of WABCG. He participated in all subsequent Conferences, and helped to set up the annual consultations with the International Sugar Organisation.
David King is responsible for preparing the policy positions of IFAP to make sure that the voices of farm families are heard internationally. He has participated on behalf of world farmers in major U.N. Conferences, including the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, the World Food Summits of 1996 and 2002, the WTO Ministerial Conferences from 1998 to 2005 and the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in 2009.
His committee activities include: membership of the Advisory Committee of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative; membership of the Board of Directors of AgriCord and of Ecoagriculture Partners; founder member of the International Agri-Food Network. He also served as Chair of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (a joint UN-civil society body), as member of the World Bank Task Force on Commodity Risk Management, and a Council Member of the International Land Coalition.
David King has degrees in agricultural economics from the University of London, U.K., and the University of Guelph, Canada.
Ajay Vashee |  |
Ajay Vashee is President of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), which represents farmers at the world level. Elected at the 38th IFAP World Farmers' in June 2008, he is the first President from a developing country in IFAP's 62-year history. He also served as the IFAP Vice President from 2006-2008, during which time he was leading IFAP's work on environmental issues.
During his IFAP Presidency, Ajay Vashee led the Farmers’ Group at the UNFCCC Summit in Copenhagen in December 2009, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in May 2009, and the World Water Forum in Istanbul in March 2009. He also addressed the FAO World Food Summit in November 2009, Chaired the session on agriculture at the WTO Public Forum in October 2009, and participated the several private sector events including the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Mr. Vashee is also the founding President of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), which represents fourteen national farmers' organizations in Southern Africa. Previously, he served as President of the Zambia National Farmers Union, where he united diverse national farming interests under its umbrella for the first time in the history of the nation.
Ajay Vashee is married with two children. A dairy and crop farmer in Zambia, he has been involved in organized agriculture for over 23 years.
Alf Cristaudo |  |
Alf Cristaudo is the Chairman of CANEGROWERS. Alf has extensive experience in the sugar industry. His farm is located in the Herbert River region, which is based on the town of Ingham. His family has been growing sugarcane for 90 years. Mr Cristaudo has travelled extensively in the interests of the industry and, as a Director of the industry’s marketing organisation, Queensland Sugar Limited, and its peak representative body, CANEGROWERS, he has participated in missions to Europe, UK, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, Canada, USA and Brazil.
He is the CANEGROWERS Australia representative on the National Farmers’ Federation.
Vinay Kumar |  |
Vinay Kumar is the Managing Director of National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. (NFCSF) – an apex organization of all cooperative sugar factories in India.
As Managing Director of NFCSF Vinay, has been responsible for all round development of the cooperative sector of sugar industry and represents the sector with the concerned fora for evolving favourable policies. He has been functioning as a motive force for making the cooperative sector of sugar industry globally competitive. Vinay also represents the Indian sugar industry in all major international bodies dealing with sugar and its by-products and has been participating in almost all the international events, conference, workshops, seminars conducted / organized by ICUMSA, Global Sugar Alliance, World Association for Beet for Cane Growers, ISSCT, International Sugar Organization, F.O. Licht, Codex Alimentarious Commission and so forth. Besides being a Director in most of the national bodies in India, Vinay is a Member of the Executive Committee of ISSCT. As Member Secretary of Indian Sugar Exim Corporation Ltd. (ISEC) in alternate years, he is responsible for formulation and execution of policies with regard to export / import of sugar, trading in sugar on behalf of sugar factories, interaction with international bodies such as ISO and International sugar trading houses, keeping in mind the welfare of Indian sugar industry.
Mauro Virgino |  |
Mauro Virgino is a Senior Commodity Analyst for ED&F Man where he has been working since 2006 focusing on the international sugar market. Previously Mauro focused on Brazil and was based in the company's regional office in Brazil. Prior to that Mauro worked in the Brazilian Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), the Brazilian government’s most important think-thank. During his career, Mauro has taken part in many research projects whose results have been presented in several congresses and seminars.
Mauro is an economist with a Masters degree in Applied Economics from the College of Agriculture of the University of Sao Paulo where he started to study the dynamics of the Brazilian sugar industry.
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