ST. LOUIS, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center today announced that Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and founder of Impossible Foods will give the keynote address on Tuesday, May 5 at AgTech NEXTTM, the bold new food and agtech innovation summit to be held May 4 - 6 at the Danforth Center. Dr. Brown is at the forefront of making nutritious, delicious meat and dairy products from plants to satisfy meat lovers and address the environmental impact of animal farming. In 2019 Impossible Foods was awarded the United Nations Global Climate Action Award.
"Pat Brown's pioneering spirit and belief that there is another way to deliver food to the world is a stellar example of someone creating a company to address an issue about which they are passionate," said Sam Fiorello, COO, Danforth Plant Science Center. "In Pat's case that question is how do we find ways to feed an ever-growing population without destroying our environment, especially in this era of climate change. We are grateful to have him as our keynote speaker and look forward to hearing his inspiring remarks at AgTech NEXT."
Dr. Brown founded Impossible Foods with a simple mission to replace the need for animals as a food-production technology globally by 2035. The demand for the Impossible Burger has exploded since its launch in 2016, and it's making a positive impact. According to the company's 2019 Impact Report, the impacts of an Impossible Burger are vastly lower: 87 percent less water use, 96 percent less land use, 89 percent fewer GHG emissions, and 92 percent less dead-zone creating nutrient pollution than ground beef from cows.
AgTech NEXT is themed "Risks and Rewards" and is an intimate and collaborative thought leadership summit where farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and strategic industry leaders will explore opportunities and challenges in the changing global food production system. The conference kicks off with Impossible Foods founder Pat Brown framing the rapid rise of plant-based proteins. Two days of discussion with practitioners from throughout the industry conclude with a conversation with former Monsanto CTO Robb Fraley about the lessons learned from GMO technology, communication with the public, and implications for the future of food production.
Discounted tickets on sale through April 20.
SOURCE Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
