The ONE Mainstage session began with Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, who welcomed the in-person delegates to Lexington and virtual attendees tuning in from around the world, challenging them to think about what comes next as we look toward the future.
'It's been almost 1,100 days since we were last together and certainly, we know a tremendous amount has changed — from social turmoil to a global pandemic and beyond,' Mr Lyons says. 'What is this all telling us? What can we step back and think about in terms of how we progress forward?'
Mr Lyons was joined on the ONE mainstage by Heather White, author, founder and CEO of 'OneGreenThing,' who brought two decades of environmental advocacy work and national nonprofit leadership to life with her book, "One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet." Ms White offered three steps to make climate action a joyful daily practice. First, think beyond your age and listen. Secondly, find your unique role, and third, apply the daily practice of sustainability.
Following Ms White's presentation, Mr Lyons spoke to agriculture's role in saving the planet.
'Reducing is not enough; we must do something different,' says Mr Lyons. 'Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, to provide nutrition for all and to help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet's resources.'
The keynote lineup also included Nikki Putnam Badding, registered dietitian nutritionist and managing director of Acutia. Putnam Badding spoke about the crucial importance of making nutrition accessible to all.
'The impact of malnutrition is far-reaching,' says Ms Putnam Badding. 'So, is it enough to just feed the world? Do we instead need to focus on providing nutrition for all, thereby changing the dialogue from food security to nutrition security?'
Dr. Vaughn Holder, Alltech ruminant research group director, then shared his insights on how animal agriculture can be part of the solution to improving sustainability.
'We sit at the interface between the main carbon capturing industry in the world and the main food production industry in the world,' says Dr Holder. 'Those things are tied closely together and unavoidable. We sit in a unique position to be doing something about the carbon argument. It really is important that we do not talk about compromising one for the other — because we have to do both.

In addition to hearing from the inspiring keynote speakers, ONE attendees participated in live workshops and focus tracks, uncovering the challenges and opportunities in agriculture, business, health and wellness, and professional development.
For more information about the event visit the website, HERE.
The Aquaculturists
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