2009 South Carolina Agribusiness Summit

 

 

This is an archived version of the original Palmetto Institute's 2009 Agribusiness Summit. Most of the original content has been preserved with additional sources added where needed.

The Palmetto Institute's 2009 Agribusiness Summit brought together South Carolina state leaders who represent the broad interests of agriculture, forestry, food processing, and agritourism in order to formulate an action plan to drive their industry in the expanding global market to $50 billion by the year 2020. It has been noted that the South Carolina's agribusiness industry has grown over the past three years (2006-2008) to become the state's number one economic engine.

The Palmetto Institute, an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit research as well as an educational organization was established in February 2002. The central mission and singular goal of the Institute is to create not only a business, community, but also a political and educational climate that would produce dramatic and sustained growth in the creation, distribution and retention of wealth for all South Carolinaresidents and businesses. The Palmetto Institute's dedication to consistent improvement enables South Carolina's agribusiness industry to produce on a continuous basis, the a profitable, environmental, economic and sustainable produce and products for all.

Summit participants had the opportunity to explore and identify how to accelerate growth of their industry via 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. As an added feature the summit also included a town hall forum with S.C. gubernatorial candidates for the upcoming 2010 election.

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Friday November 13th 8:30am to 2:00pm
The Francis Marion Hotel
Charleston, South Carolina

Program

8:30 am to 9 am:
Registration and Networking
9 am to 11 am:
Presentations
11 am to 12:15 pm:
Town Hall Forum with Gubernatorial Candidates, moderated by David Winkles, President, South Carolina Farm Bureau
12:15 pm to 12:45 pm:
Lunch Served
12:45 pm to 1:30 pm:
Keynote Address
1:30 pm to 2:00 pm:
Conclusion and Adjournment

Featured Speakers

Darla Moore, Palmetto Institute Board Chair
The Honorable Hugh Weathers, Commissioner of Agriculture, State of South Carolina
The Honorable Gene Kodama, South Carolina State Forester
Dr. Billy Ray Hall, President, North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center
Keynote: The Honorable Kathleen A. Merrigan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

News

Lake City Key's on Income, Education.
Dec 1, 2008

Lake City was home to another famous American, Ronald McNair, a laser physicist who was recruited by NASA to become an astronaut.

State's Future Moore Passion.
Nov 30, 2008

Lake City, Darla Moore's hometown, was once a major hub for tobacco production in the South. City officials are hoping to renovate and convert ...

Improving Agriculture Topic of Summit.
Nov 21, 2008

Agriculture is one of the biggest industries in South Carolina and a meeting being held in Charleston focuses on how to improve it.

Sponsorships

Take advantage of this initial opportunity to boost your company's awareness and name recognition. By sponsoring the Agribusiness Summit, you will reach hundreds of South Carolina's business, agribusiness and community leaders. And you really don't have to be from South Carolina to benefit from a sponsorship. We've had a variety of businesses out of state who have seen the benefits. For instance a Senior Analyst for the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture, a Washington, DC-based organization that promotes research and education in sustainable agriculture brought his tech team to the conference - the entire NYC team from TNG/Earthling tagged along. Bob Sakayama even volunteered his search team to optimize the project for Google search. This brought the event to the attention of hundreds of out of state entities that inquired about sponsorships or about attending in person. During the event, this site was number 1 for a number of related keywords and in the top 10 for many. These great search results also made the summit more accessible and improved its stature immensely - in this world, visibility is everything.

The Agribusiness Summit provides an engaging and motivational setting designed to educate our state's current and future leaders about the importance of agriculture to South Carolina's economy.

Your tax-deductible contribution may be made out to the Palmetto Institute, a 501 (c) non-profit entity dedicated to creating a business, community, political and educational climate that will produce dramatic and sustained growth in the creation, distribution and retention of wealth for every person in South Carolina.


Sponsorship Opportunities:

Platinum Level Sponsorship: $10,000

Platinum Level sponsors will receive:

  • Conference registration for 8 attendees
  • Reserved table at conference
  • Verbal recognition at conference
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on all conference literature
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on all conference banners
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on conference invitation
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on screen in conference room
  • Private reception with conference speakers, key business and community leaders and Palmetto Institute representatives on the evening before the conference

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Gold Level Sponsorship: $5,000

Gold Level sponsors will receive:

  • Conference registration for 4 attendees
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on all conference banners
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on conference invitation
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on screen in conference room
  • Private reception with conference speakers, key business and community leaders and Palmetto Institute representatives on the evening before the conference

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Silver Level Sponsorship: $2,500

Silver Level sponsors will receive:

  • Conference registration for 2 attendees
  • Recognition (logo and company name) on all signage at Summit

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Contact

Media

Emily Brady
emily.brady(at)cnsg.com
803-233-2452

Kim Jamieson
kim.jamieson(at)cnsg.com
803-233-2466

Sponsorships

David Anderson
david.anderson(at)cnsg.com
803-233-2443

RSVP

Willi McNamara
wmcnamara(at)palmettoinstitute.org
803-806-8106

 

 

Overview of SCagSummit and Its Role in South Carolina Agribusiness

 

SCagSummit.com is the definitive digital hub for South Carolina’s most influential agribusiness event, the South Carolina Agribusiness Summit. Hosted by the Palmetto Institute, this summit has served as a vital crossroads for the state’s agricultural, forestry, food processing, and rural development leaders. The summit’s ambition is to guide the industry through innovative strategies, with a sharp focus on economic growth, sustainability, policy, and future leadership. As the economic landscape of South Carolina has shifted, SCagSummit.com has reflected, documented, and propelled this progress, making it an anchor point for knowledge, networking, and advocacy.

Ownership and Governance

SCagSummit.com was established and is managed by the Palmetto Institute, a South Carolina-based independent nonprofit. The Institute, founded in February 2002, is dedicated to generating growth, opportunity, and long-term prosperity for every South Carolinian. Central to its vision is the idea that business, public policy, and education must collaborate to sustain economic success and nurture civic leadership. The Summit represents one of the Palmetto Institute’s flagship initiatives—bringing together visionaries, policymakers, and practitioners under a unified purpose.

The Institute is steered by an accomplished board, including civic-minded business executives, agricultural leaders, and academic thought leaders. Daily management and Summit operations rely on a professional team with expertise in policy research, event planning, and outreach.

Location and Physical Presence

The events affiliated with the SCagSummit typically convene in Columbia—South Carolina’s capital—known for its agricultural tradition and institutional proximity to Clemson University and research centers. However, Summit-linked panels, forums, and workshops have been hosted across Charleston, Florence, and rural heartland counties. This location strategy enables robust participation from all corners of the state and ensures rural voices—those directly affected by agrarian policy—are heard and engaged.

The website serves as the centralized information archive: it offers registration, directions, itineraries, event recaps, and resources for those traveling to attend in person or seeking information online.

The Summit Program: Structure and Menus

The Agribusiness Summit’s agenda is meticulously structured to cover the entire spectrum of agribusiness. Its menu of activities includes:

  • Registration and networking breakfasts where stakeholders establish key early connections

  • Morning presentations led by renowned experts and state leaders in agriculture, forestry, and food processing industries

  • Open forums and Q&A panels delving into current economic challenges, upcoming regulatory shifts, and technological innovations

  • Lunch service featuring Southern specialties sourced from local producers, highlighting the farm-to-table link central to South Carolina’s culture

  • Afternoon keynote addresses—featuring both national and local leaders such as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan and Clemson University researchers

  • Town hall sessions with gubernatorial candidates, providing direct dialogue between the state’s agricultural community and policymakers

  • Concluding sessions for networking, resource sharing, and forging future partnerships

The Summit’s evolving itinerary—including annual summaries, past speaker lineups, and session transcripts—is archived on SCagSummit.com. Attendees regularly comment on the high caliber of cuisine, the access to industry leadership, and the breadth of practical, strategic insights gained.

Historical Significance and Evolution

The origins of the South Carolina Agribusiness Summit date to 2009, a period of renewal for the state’s agricultural sector. The Palmetto Institute recognized a need for unified vision and coordinated action as traditional agriculture gave way to new technologies, market realities, and sustainability imperatives.

The Summit was launched with an ambitious economic goal—to grow the agribusiness sector’s output to $50 billion by 2020. This milestone served both as a rallying cry and as a metric for tracking impact. Over subsequent years, the Summit documented and contributed to:

  • The shift from single-crop farming to diverse, value-added agriculture

  • Intensification of sustainable and regenerative practices

  • Rural access to broadband and digital technologies

  • Empowerment of underrepresented groups, including women and minority-owned agribusinesses

  • Collaboration between research institutions (especially Clemson University) and rural entrepreneurs to commercialize new technologies

As the agribusiness sector surpassed the $50 billion mark, the Summit refocused on sustainability, resilience, and preparing the next generation of rural entrepreneurs.

Popularity, Reach, and Audience

SCagSummit.com is a magnet for a wide, varied audience:

  • Traditional farmers seeking guidance amid changing market and climate conditions

  • Young agripreneurs launching farm-to-table and specialty foods businesses

  • Forestry, food processing, distribution, and logistics professionals

  • Policy advocates, legislators, and economic development officials

  • Academics, extension agents, and students shaping the future of rural science and policy

  • General consumers interested in local food pathways, sustainable agriculture, and rural tourism

The Summit regularly draws hundreds of in-person attendees and thousands more participate via its online materials and livestreams. Traffic to SCagSummit.com spikes during event seasons, when new policies are announced, or when ground-breaking stories of agribusiness innovation are featured.

Economic Development, Innovation, and Strategic Goals

At its heart, the Summit is a launchpad for economic development ideas that reverberate throughout South Carolina and beyond. Notable ongoing initiatives and focus areas include:

  • Support for agricultural entrepreneurship through grants and curriculum partnerships, alongside entities such as ACRE (Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship)

  • Strategic planning to grow and diversify crop and livestock portfolios based on market and climate trends

  • Promoting agri-tourism as a supplemental income stream for rural communities, connecting the public with South Carolina’s unique foodways and landscapes

  • Legislative advocacy for improved infrastructure and regulatory support, informed by direct feedback from industry

  • Showcasing innovations such as precision agriculture, sustainable forestry, alternative energy crops, and the application of AI and IoT in farm management

Clemson Cooperative Extension and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture frequently leverage SCagSummit.com’s reports and summit content for their own outreach and education efforts.

Industry Collaboration and Sponsorship

The Summit models best-in-class collaboration between industry, government, and academia. Noteworthy is its multi-tier sponsorship system, offering Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels. Sponsors benefit from:

  • Reserved seating and prominent acknowledgment at events

  • Branding in all conference materials and on-site signage

  • Exclusive access to private receptions with thought leaders and policymakers

  • Direct connection with sector innovators, community influencers, and potential business partners

Major supporters include agribusiness conglomerates, banks, rural utilities, local cooperatives, and influential advocacy organizations.

Press Coverage, Media Visibility, and Public Impact

The Summit and SCagSummit.com command regular coverage in local and national media, including articles in The State, Farm Progress, and business press, as well as coverage on radio and local television. Key moments such as the surpassing of the $50 billion benchmark, major public-private partnership launches, or new educational curricula often garner headlines.

Media coverage amplifies Summit messages—especially those around rural revitalization, diversity in agriculture, and the environmental sustainability imperative—helping to shape public opinion and policy.

Cultural and Social Significance

The South Carolina Agribusiness Summit is not only about economics or policy. It is a powerful celebration and reaffirmation of the state’s cultural legacy of agriculture—while forging new pathways for rural communities. The Summit foregrounds:

  • The deep historical roots of agriculture in South Carolina’s collective identity

  • Rural resilience, the importance of family farms, and intergenerational learning

  • The evolving story of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Southern agribusiness

  • Innovative farm-to-fork stories uniting producers, chefs, and consumers

By marrying tradition with forward-thinking approaches, the Summit ensures that South Carolina’s rural strengths continue to thrive far into the future.

Audience Engagement and Program Examples

A diversity of voices animate each Summit. Case studies and featured speakers over the years have included:

  • Young entrepreneurs revitalizing abandoned farmsteads into flourishing organic operations

  • Women agribusiness owners creating new markets and products

  • Veterans retraining in sustainable agriculture, supported by tailored outreach programs

  • Rural educators integrating Summit resources into high school and collegiate curricula

Interactive town hall forums and youth-led presentations further ensure the next generation’s voice is always part of the conversation.

Reviews, Testimonials, and Lasting Relationships

Feedback from participants underscores the Summit’s impact:

  • Attendees value the Summit’s “unprecedented collaboration” and the actionable content available on SCagSummit.com

  • Rural economic developers cite lasting relationships and partnerships launched through networking sessions

  • New and minority participants highlight the welcoming community and access to opportunities

Summit testimonials reflect appreciation not only for practical knowledge, but for the sense of alignment and optimism the event inspires.

Awards, Grants, and Achievement Highlights

While the Summit is not primarily an awards event, its impact is regularly recognized through:

  • Economic impact studies confirming the $50+ billion annual value of agribusiness

  • Entrepreneurship awards and grant recognition, including the ACRE program and innovation showcases

  • Best educational programming accolades from regional agricultural and business associations

  • Policy initiatives—such as broadband for rural communities and inclusion of sustainable practices—later adopted at the state level

These honors are routinely tracked and spotlighted on SCagSummit.com.

Future Directions

As South Carolina’s economy continues to diversify and as global forces reshape agriculture, the Summit is evolving toward:

  • Greater emphasis on environmental stewardship, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience

  • Investment in digital transformation of rural economies: smart farming tech, remote data monitoring, and digital supply chains

  • Increased outreach to entrepreneurs, veterans, and communities historically underserved by agribusiness programs

  • Partnerships with culinary and agri-tourism stakeholders to brand South Carolina food and rural experiences nationally

SCagSummit.com remains the primary vehicle for communicating this evolution, constantly updating its archives and resource base.

The South Carolina Agribusiness Summit and SCagSummit.com together represent far more than a conference or a website. They are integral to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of the state—showcasing what can be achieved when collaboration, vision, and tradition join forces. Whether accessed for event schedules, whitepapers, educational materials, partnership opportunities, or simply inspiration, SCagSummit.com continues to guide, inform, and motivate the entire agribusiness ecosystem of South Carolina.

 

SCagSummit.com