RPP Industry Alliance Meeting

2025 Industry Alliance Meeting

Join us May 20 & 21 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville, AR, for a two-day event.

Day one (May 20) begins at 8am with keynote speakers, research presentations, and an interactive fireside chat over lunch. We finish off the day with a social and dinner.

Day two (May 21) begins at 8:30am with a keynote address, research presentations, lunch, Arkansas Rice Production Update, some perspectives on rice production economics, with technical meeting adjournment at 2:15pm. You are welcome to end your day with a Arkansas Rice Processing Program Facility Tour and Equipment Demonstrations from 2:30-5:00 pm

Date/Time

May 20, 2025
Meeting 8-5pm
Social & Dinner 6:30pm

May 21, 2025
Meeting 8:30-2:15pm
Tours & Demos
2:30-5:00pm

Registration

Please submit the Online Form to secure your spot

Program

View the Schedule

Accommodations

Visit the Accommodations page

Meeting Information

Welcome – Day 1- May 20th 2025

8:00 am

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Dr. J-F Meullenet, Sr. Associate VP for Agriculture-Research and Director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

8:10 am

Introductions
Dr. Griffiths Atungulu, Associate Professor and Director, Arkansas Rice Processing Program

8:30 am

Keynote Address
Kevin McGilton, CEO, Riceland Foods, Inc

Break

9:30 am

Pre-Harvest Property Characterization & Sustainability

10:00 am

Leveraging Genetic Advancements to Improving Head Rice Yields
Yulin Jia, Research Leader, Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center

10:30 am

Gene Editing for Grain Quality & Milling Yield Improvement Under High Nighttime Temperatures
Vibha Srivastava, Professor of Plant Biotechnology, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

11:00 am

High Night Temperature Effects on Rice Yields and Quality: Responses to Lessen Damage
Paul Counce, Professor of Rice Physiology, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

11:30 am

Nitrogen Application Effects on Milling Yields, Rice Physicochemical Properties & End-use Processing
Kaushik Luthra, Post Doctoral Associate, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Lunch

12:00

Luncheon “Fireside” Chat

12:30 pm

Arkansas Rice From Farm to Shelf: Merchandiser, Crop Improvement, and Consumer Takes
Panelists: Drew Sadler, Walmart VP of Sourcing, Food Pantry; Brian Ottis, Global Solutions Development Lead, RiceTec; John Carlin, Director of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Rice Variety Improvement Program & Hallie Shoffner, Farmer and CEO of Delta Harvest

Break

1:30 pm

Drying, Milling & Storage

1:45 pm

Interactive Multiyear Database of Quality & Physicochemical Attributes of Rice
Griffiths Atungulu, Associate Professor & Director Arkansas Rice Processing Program, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture & Alan R. Vazquez, Tecnologico de Monterrey – Monterrey Campus, Mexico

2:20 pm

Analyzing Milling Behavior and Industrial Appraisal Standards for Conventional & Hybrid Rice Cultivars
Samuel Olaoni, Doctoral Research Student, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

2:45 pm

New Smart Technology for Early Detection of Insects in Grain Storage
Zhongli Pan, Professor, University of California Davis & Founder Avison Inc.

Break

3:15 pm

End-Use Processing

3:30 pm

Parboiling Process Optimization for Contemporary Arkansas Rice Cultivars
Evans Owusu, Doctoral Research Students, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

4:00 pm

Optimizing Processing, Cultivar Selection and Quality of Instant Rice
Faith Ouma, Doctoral Research Student, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

4:30 pm

Optimizing the Blend of Rice and Chickpea Proteins for a Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative
Nikitha Modupalli, Post Doctoral Associate, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Meeting Adjournment

5:00 pm

Final discussion, feedback, and adjournment
Attendees can enjoy a break before dinner

Evening Activities

6:30 pm

Social & Dinner

Welcome – Day 2- May 21st 2025

8:30 am

Keynote Address
Opportunities for Rice Processing By-Product Resource Utilization
Layne Fortenberry, Rice Capital CEO

By-Product Resource Utilization

9:00 am

Plant-Based Protein Product Development from Rice Bran & Brokens
Rahman Mahfuzur, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

9:30 am

Rice Straw and Husk as Substrates for Mycoprotein Production Technology
Sungil Ferreira, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

10:00 am

Insect-Based Bioconversion of Milling By-Products into High-Value Food Ingredient
Christabel Tachie, Doctoral Research Student, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Break

10:30 am

Sensory, Consumer & Flavor Science

11:00 am

Rice-Based Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverage Research
Scott Lafontaine, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

11:30 am

Impact of Rice Packaging Exposure on Consumer Purchase Intent & Visual Attention
Natalia Calderon, Program Technician, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Lunch

12:00

Lucheon Keynote

12:30 pm

Arkansas Rice Production Update
Jarrod Hardke, Rice Extension Agronomist, UADA

Economics

1:30 pm

The Economic Model of Rice: A Quality Compromise?
Hallie Shoffner, Farmer and CEO of Delta Harvest

Meeting Adjournment

2:15 pm

Final discussion, feedback, and adjournment

Arkansas RPP Facility Tours & Equipment Demonstrations 2:30-5pm

2:30 – 5 pm

Department of Food Science, 2650 N. Young Avenue
Rice Quality Lab, Dr. Atungulu
Rice Processing Pilot Plant, Dr. Atungulu
Carbohydrate Chemistry Lab, Dr. Ya-Jane Wang
Sensory Lab, Dr. Han-Seok Seo
Novel Ingredient Processing & Utilization Lab, Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman
Flavor Analysis Lab, Dr. Scott Lafontaine
Food Engineering Lab, Dr. Ali Ubeyitogullari

Accommodation

Inn at Carnall Hall (3 miles south of meeting location)
465 Arkansas Avenue
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: 479-582-0400
Rate: $129/night (King)

Deadline to reserve with group rate: Monday, April 18, 2025
The group block is held under “Arkansas Rice Processing Program”

Hyatt Place (3.4 miles north of meeting location)
348 East Van Asche, Fayetteville, AR 72703, United States of America
Rate: $135/night (Kings & Queens/ Pool/ Breakfast Included)

Deadline to reserve with group rate: Monday, May 7, 2025
Click Hyatt link above, apply Dates of your stay and the discount is automatically applied

For a list of other local hotels and to learn more about the Fayetteville area, visit the Experience Fayetteville website.

Industry Alliance Meeting Information

To view past meeting presentations, please see the Meeting Archives section.