Purdue Agricultural Economics event features Land O’Lakes Inc. leader

Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics announced that Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes Inc., will take part April 12 in an interview-style Q&A session, “A Conversation with Beth Ford,” at the prestigious 45th Annual James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture.

Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor and head of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics, will lead the discussion.

Ford assumed the role of president and CEO in August 2018. She previously held positions as the COO of Land O’Lakes Businesses, in which she oversaw Land O’Lakes’ WinField United, Purina Animal Nutrition and Dairy Foods business units, and as the head of Land O’Lakes’ Dairy Foods and Purina Animal Nutrition businesses, where she led record performance and growth, leveraging innovation through research and development to strengthen both brands.

The event will focus on how Land O'Lakes positions itself within the value chain of agriculture to create a more sustainable planet while also maintaining and improving efficiency. Additionally, Lusk will ask questions relevant to artificial intelligence (supply chain management, value chains, big data, automation, food safety) and sustainability (growing populations, climate change, food security). Faculty, staff and students from the Department of Agricultural Economics submitted questions for Ford ahead of the event. Time will be also be set aside for audience questions.