Palmetto Institute's 2009 Agribusiness Summit will bring Leaders Together to Discuss Future of SC's Agribusiness Industry

November 11, 2009

CHARLESTON, SC – November 13, 2009 – Summit Explores Ways to Drive SC’s #1 Economic Engine Agribusiness to $50 Billion by 2020

WHO:      

  • Darla Moore, Founder and Board Chair of the Palmetto Institute
  • The Honorable Hugh Weathers, Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of South Carolina
  • The Honorable Kathleen A. Merrigan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
  • The Honorable Gene Kodama, South Carolina State Forester
  • Dr. Billy Ray Hall, President of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center
  • David Winkles, President of South Carolina Farm Bureau
  • 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial candidates

WHAT:   The Palmetto Institute’s 2009 Agribusiness Summit, The Drive to 50 by 20, provides a forum for S.C.’s agribusiness leaders to meet and discuss the role of S.C.’s agribusiness industry in the expanding global market.  Through in-depth presentations by accredited speakers from across state and country, including a keynote presentation by The Honorable Kathleen Merrigan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, summit participants will have the opportunity to explore and identify how to accelerate growth of the industry to reach $50 billion by the year 2020. The program will also include a town hall forum with S.C. gubernatorial candidates for the upcoming 2010 election.

WHERE:     The Francis Marion Hotel 
                    387 King Street
                    Charleston, SC 29403

WHEN:     Friday, November 13, 2009
                  8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHY:    South Carolina’s agribusiness industry has grown over the past three years to become the state’s number one economic engine.   The Palmetto Institute’s 2009 Agribusiness Summit will bring together SC state leaders representing the broad interests of agriculture, forestry, food processing, and agritourism who will make an action plan to drive the industry to 50 by 20.  The Palmetto Institute’s dedication to consistent improvement enables South Carolina’s agribusiness industry to continue to produce the most profitable, environmental, economic an-d sustainable produce and products for the community.