April 3, 2016

Dr. Mark Lyons, global vice president and head of Greater China at Alltech, received his undergraduate degree in political science and environmental science in 1999 from the University of Chicago. He received his master’s degree in brewing and distilling in 2001, followed by a Ph.D. in the area of solid state fermentation at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. In 2007, he successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis, graduating in June 2008. His thesis was graded “excellent” and was nominated for a Heriot-Watt award.

Since 2011, Dr. Lyons has been concentrating on key international accounts and industry groups as well as core company initiatives. He relocated to China in early 2012 as part of Alltech’s focus on the Asia-Pacific region, which generates approximately 35 percent of the world’s feed tonnage. Living in Beijing and traveling throughout China, Dr. Lyons is focused on the company’s “China Now” initiative to deepen its support of the industry through research, education and strategic initiatives in the world’s most populous nation.

Dr. Lyons is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French and German and previously served as international projects director, overseeing developments and operations at Alltech’s solid state fermentation plant in Serdan, Mexico, and its flagship yeast production facility in São
Pedro, Brazil.

Under his leadership as director of North America from 2009 to 2011, Alltech expanded its presence with the opening of new offices and a growing involvement in all agricultural sectors. Dr. Lyons has served as a board member of the American Feed Industry Association and is active in many industry groups, such as the International Poultry Council, National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council and the National Pork Producers Council. He is also vice president of the Soil and Fertilizer Alliance of China and is a committee member of the China Toxicology Association. Dr. Lyons has published papers and patents in areas ranging from enzyme production to global economics and is interested in assurance of
food safety and quality throughout the entire food chain. Recently, he was named as one of “The top 50 Irish business men and women in the BRIC countries” and “40 Under 40” leaders in agriculture by Vance Publishing Corporation.