The Millikin University Institute for Science Entrepreneurship, a signature program of Millikin's Center for Entrepreneurship, will continue its Fall 2016 Speaker Series on Tuesday, Nov. 15, featuring keynote speaker Parry Dixon, director of economic research at Archer Daniels Midland Company.
The presentation will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the East Room of Lower Richards Treat University Center on Millikin's campus. The presentation is free and open to the public, and no tickets or reservations are required.
Agriculture has experienced volatile changes over the past 25 years as we have seen the human population grow from 5.3 to 7.5 billion. The dominant trend has been the sharp rise in meat consumption which has necessitated an even larger increase in feedstuffs. The result has put strains on land use and produced major questions about carbon emissions and how we will feed the world in a march toward over 9 billion people. Parry Dixon's presentation, entitled "Macroeconomic Trends in Agriculture," will examine the potential trends for the next 25 years and how agriculture could change around the world.
Parry Dixon is an ADM economist at ADM Corporate headquarters in Decatur, Ill. Dixon joined ADM in 1984. As an ADM economist, he is responsible for economic analysis in addition to price forecasting for commodities. Prior to joining ADM, Parry worked for a large brokerage firm in Chicago, Ill. In total, he has over 40 years of experience in agricultural economics.
Dixon grew up on a small crop farm in Idaho with dairy and beef operations. He received a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Brigham Young University. Dixon went on to graduate with both a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The speaker series focuses on science entrepreneurship and how an increased emphasis on entrepreneurship can spark job creation and societal well-being. This fall's series includes the CEO of a health center, an individual who started an international environmental movement, the owner of a plastics injection molders company, the CEO of a custom plate fabrication facility and an economist for a Fortune 500 company. Busey is the Title Sponsor of this year's speaker series.
The Institute for Science Entrepreneurship was originally funded by a Millikin University Performance Learning Enhancement Grant in December 2012. Since that time, the institute has been pledged or received funding and support from 300 Below Inc., Andreas Foundation through the Community Foundation of Macon County, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Brechnitz Group of Raymond James, Busey, Caterpillar Decatur, Coleman Foundation, Decatur Memorial Hospital, John Ullrich Foundation, Millikin University, National Foodworks Services, Parke Warehouses, St. Mary's Hospital, Tate & Lyle, Wild Bird Feeding Industry, Zevacor Molecular, a private foundation and anonymous donors.
In addition to the speaker series, the Institute teaches courses in science entrepreneurship, oversees a Clinical Nuclear Science Program, and students and faculty conduct applied research with science companies.
For more information on the speaker series or the Millikin University Institute for Science Entrepreneurship, contact Dr. David Horn at 217.424.6392, by e-mail at dhorn@millikin.edu or visit millikin.edu/InstituteForScienceEntrepreneurship.
The following is a list of upcoming speakers for the fall 2016 semester.
Fall 2016 Science Entrepreneurship Speaker Series brought to you by Busey
Thursday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Lower Richards Treat University Center
Speaker: Jim Grady, President and CEO, Kopetz Manufacturing