Read below on how the inaugural HORIZON Summit brought together global leaders with the goal of changing the dynamic of agriculture investments for small businesses and farmers
Last month, the UNUM One Foundation launched its global summit for small businesses and farmers, called HORIZON, with a stop in Monroe, LA. The event attracted leaders and subject matter experts from around the world. The conversations, panel discussions, and training sessions provided practical solutions and information on topics such as scaling and increasing profits globally, protecting land rights, diverse market sales opportunities, and the impact of technology and climate on agriculture’s supply chain. Each panel offered insights into the current state of agriculture, emphasizing actionable steps for success.
One notable panel, "Beyond the Field: Economic and Social Strategies for Today‘s Farmers," featured Julius Tillery, Freedmen Heirs Foundation Farmer Liaison; Gary Barrett, Director of USDA Forest Services National Partnership Office; Allison Johnson, USDA Office of Partnership and Public Engagement; and Virendra Chhikara, Center Director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Tina Taylor, Co-Founder and Chair of the UNUM One Foundation and General Partner of UNUM Capital Investments shared her perspective.
“I come from a rural community in North Carolina and have seen the impact of limited resources on farming families and small businesses. I want to shift the paradigm. We are bringing together leaders from across the globe to discuss the future of agriculture and technology in unprecedented ways. I'm thrilled by the innovative ideas and solutions that emerged from this event, particularly in sustainable farming and new funding models for small businesses. It's also crucial to highlight those who are pioneering change and setting the standard for economic impact. Our 2024 Gala honorees include Mamadou Toure, Senator Regina Barrow, and Jo-Ann Lawrence. My goal for HORIZON is to ensure that every participant feels their time was well invested and knows they have a trusted resource dedicated to their unique growth and success. Each business owner's journey will be different, but HORIZON is committed to supporting them every step of the way.”
Julius Tillery also gave his overall perspective of the inaugural event.
“As a representative of Black farmers at the Horizon Summit, I felt incredibly comfortable around this agriculturally focused and aware group. This conference was centered around a global emphasis on investment in agricultural opportunities. Numerous panel discussions brought leaders in finance, fashion, politics, governmental agencies, United Nations representatives, tech leaders, and more to the table. Keynote Speaker, Mamadou Toure held a powerful discussion centered on the emphasis of international investment opportunities awareness. After attending the Horizon Summit event, I realized the importance of dreaming big in order to achieve our goals. In today's world of agriculture, we have more opportunities to make connections that didn't exist before. As a farmer, I know that adapting to the global market is nothing new. However, what is new is our ability to network and connect with more people to address these challenges more effectively and efficiently. Our networks are no longer limited to just local connections. By making connections at this conference, I believe that our farming communities should start thinking on a national and international scale. During his keynote speech, Mamadou Toure shared that there are 300 million middle-class Africans on the continent of Africa. This made me realize that agricultural innovation provides vast opportunities to make a positive impact and we should tap into these resources from around the world to bring about these changes.”
The HORIZON Summit also had speaker sessions that focused on topics around small business training and various global investment opportunities.
If you are interested in learning about the UNUM One Foundation and attending the upcoming global agriculture investment summits, please visit their website at www.unumone.org.