The 2019 Rice Market & Technology Convention was hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana from June 5 – June 7 where the Marriott welcomed attendees to the Big Easy with contemporary style, award-winning service and an unparalleled location. The convention attracted nearly 400 attendees from 33 countries around the world, including the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.
Attendees enjoyed sessions from world renowned speakers and industry experts as well as from keynote speaker, Ted McKinney, USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
RMTC is known for providing the global rice industry opportunities to network and meet other influencers in the industry. This year, the welcome reception was held at the historic Jaxon in the heart of the French Quarter and hosted by the Louisiana Independent Rice Producers Association in partnership with Certified Louisiana and Louisiana Economic Development. Governor John Bel Edwards met and welcomed attendees at the reception this year.
The Texas Rice Council hosted the second reception on Thursday evening, where attendees were able to enjoy appetizers and an open bar while they visited with sponsors and exhibitors at RMTC’s yearly expo which is open the three days the convention is taking place. Under Secretary Ted McKinney also used the reception as an opportunity to discuss the market and trade relations with attendees.
For more information about speakers, agenda and attendees of the RMTC 2019, please click the tabs below.
The Jaxson on the River
The Jaxson is located in the heart of the historic New Orleans French Quarter just steps from the Mississippi River and St. Louis Cathedral.
Sponsored by:
Opening Introductions
Governor of Louisiana
Welcome
Rice and World Economy Today & Tomorrow
When we realize that today’s rice market is not the market our fathers had to deal with, we can also assume that tomorrow’s market is not going to look like today’s market. This presentation will look at the current market and then try and get a glimpse of what the market may look like tomorrow where tomorrow is defined as somewhere in the future. After doing that, some will be hoping that “Tomorrow Never Comes!!!”
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Tariffs and Other Political Turmoil in Trade
Indigo Ag: Revolution of Farming Food & Marketing
Sustaining a Southern U.S. Rice Industry with Today’s Consumer Demands
Does Climate Stress Impact Rice Performance?
Adding Value to the Rice Industry
What Can Be Anticipated from the Mercosur?
Jim Whitaker
Steve Linscombe
Mike Wagner
Carla Brites
The rice industry’s commitment to sustainability dates back generations, long before sustainability became a popular term. Every day the rice industry strives to meet the demands of growing populations while increasing resource efficiencies at every level of the supply chain. Rice stewardship and sustainability are more than just the new buzzwords of the industry. Stewardship and sustainability are an expression of what matters, professionally and ethically. Today’s rice industry is building on past improvements and working together in new ways to more sustainably feed a growing population. Rice farmers, in particular, are leading by example, having a historical commitment to protect and conserve the natural resources that produce a healthy, environmentally beneficial, and economically stable food source while providing a sustainable livelihood for their families. Sustainability is becoming more and more important to many of our customers and end-users – both major and minor. The increased emphasis on sustainability is found through-out the rice-producing countries of the world. If it is not on the forefront in your country or region, it will be soon.
This session will highlight the improvements is sustainability that has been achieved over the previous 36 years while providing specific examples of incorporation of many of these practices at the farm level.
Enjoy appetizers, drinks and live music while you network with your fellow delegates and visit RMTC’s Sponsors & Exhibitors!
Sponsored by:
Opening Introductions
Keynote
Innovations in Rice Aging
Comparison Between Parboiled Rice and Aged Rice; Advances in Rice Aging Automation
What Lies Beneath? (Treating By-Products as Important as the Whole Grain)
Exploitation of Bran Rice Bioactive Compounds for Healthy Food Development
Port of New Orleans
INDIA-Emerging Technological Hub for Ageing and Parboiled Process Innovation
Rice Exchange: The Go-To Marketplace for the Global Trade
Stephen Edkins, CEO and co-founder of Rice Exchange, will introduce the innovative rice trading platform that improves your rice trading experience. The digital platform was built by an experienced team of block chain developers under the leadership of Dr. Don Oparah with input from veteran rice trader Frank Gouverne. The platform uses Hyperledger Fabric and smart contracts to create an audit log of every rice trade. By using Hyperledger Fabric’s permissioned distributed ledger, Rice Exchange provides transparency to the relevant parties within a trade without publicly revealing private information related to the trade. The Rice Exchange platform has attracted more than 300 Early Adopters who have signed up to trade in excess of seven million tons of rice. These Early Adopters come from more than 50 countries spanning five continents, representing a truly global rice community.
The Rice Marketers: Endgame
Wynn-Thomas
Stuart Hoetger
Closing Ceremony
Fabian Franzese
Fabian Franzese, an agronomist graduated from the University of Buenos Aires where he also obtained a specialization and a masters degree in Agribusiness and Foods, he has worked in the rice business for more than 30 years. Franzese has done it from different responsibilities in some of the most important…
Ben Allen
Ben Allen came to Indigo from AGRI-TREND, one of the largest agronomy services providers in North America, based out of Calgary, Canada. As Chief Revenue Officer, he was responsible for sales, marketing, and go-to-market strategy, with a particular focus on precision ag software products. In 2015, AGRI-TREND was purchased by…
Stephen Edkins
Stephen Edkins is an experienced entrepreneur and angel investor with interests in agriculture and renewable energy. He is passionate about investing in technology that has been developed in, or, can be applied to developing countries. Stephen, who is an Oxford-trained economist, started his career in finance with a focus on…
Governor John Bel Edwards
The son of a sheriff and Charity Hospital nurse, John Bel Edwards understood the importance of serving others from an early age. From his service as an active duty Airborne Ranger in the U.S. Army to his time in the Louisiana House of Representatives, Gov. Edwards has always put people…
Dr. Carla Brites
Dr. Carla Brites will highlight the most relevant compounds, variability, health effects and examples of applicability in the agro-food industry. Her specialty is food science, technology and innovation with research experience focused on enhancing the quality and marketability of cereals including rice. Her current research called “ArrozBig” concentrates on the…
Jim Whitaker
Jim Whitaker is a managing partner of the family owned and operated Trinity Farms, in McGehee, Arkansas. He is a fifth-generation family farmer. Jim along with his brother Sam, also produce corn, soybeans, and cotton. Jim has worked with the Boys and Girls Club of McGehee in various positions of…
Alice Gomez
Alice Gomez, an attorney and professional member of the food and agriculture practice group, joined Cornerstone in 2007. She represents producer organizations, international entities, commodity research and promotion programs, food manufacturers and distributors on issues related to the marketing of agricultural products, international trade, and nutrition. Alice advises clients on…
Dr. Danilo Vera Coello
Dr. Danilo Vera Coello, he earned his Master Degree In epidemiology comparative in the development of the Black Sigatoka on banana and plantain in 2003 at Universidad Federal de Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil and his Ph. D On the role of the dangerous condition in the epidemiology of the eyespot…
Dr. J. Thomas Wynn
Dr. J. Thomas Wynn is a farmer, rancher, marketing analyst, and COO of M&W Farm & Ranch in Egypt, Texas. He is also a partner in Coastal Rice & Futures Inc. in East Bernard, Texas. His specialty is risk management in agricultural commodity markets. He also focuses on innovation diffusion…
Norris Bond
Norris Bond graduated in 1970 from The University of Southwestern Louisiana, with high distinction with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Norris was initially employed as a design engineer by Baker Oil Tools of Houston, Texas, where he, was responsible for the design and prototype testing of various types…
Dr. Steve Linscombe
Steve Linscombe received his Ph.D. in Agronomy, Plant Breeding & Genetics in 1982 from Mississippi State University and his M.S. in Agronomy in 1979 and his B.S. in Animal Science in 1976, both from Louisiana State University. Dr. Linscombe is the Director of the Rice Research Station (Dec. 2003 –…
Stuart Hoetger
Stuart Hoetger is a managing partner and founder of The Stogan Group, an agricultural business firm engaged in commodity trading and market analysis. Before assuming management of Pinnacle Rice Cooperative and launching an online rice brokerage platform, Stuart’s sole focus was providing market analysis and strategy to global traders, merchandisers…
2019 RMTC Sponsors
2019 RMTC Exhibitors
