#126 Live from Outlook 2025: Rice Innovation in Food and Drink

#126 Live from Outlook 2025: Rice Innovation in Food and Drink

Author: USA Rice December 16, 2025 Duration: 35:59
The 2025 USA Rice Outlook Conference was a record-setting success. One widely-attended session on the FMC Stage was "Brewing and Beyond." Michael Klein was joined by food scientist Dr. Scott Lafontaine, Exceedient Foods' Derek Alarcon, and from J.T. Meleck Distillers Emily Meyers. From rice varieties and gel temps to flavor profiles and being a whiskey taster, the panel unpacked a lot of innovation.

Learn more at:
www.exceedientfoods.com 
www.food-science.uark.edu 
www.jtmeleck.com 
@jtmeleck2.0
 
With special guests:
Dr. Scott Lafontaine, University of Arkansas Center for Beverage Innovation and Derek Alarcon, Exceedient Foods, Farmers' Rice Cooperative, and Emily Meyers, J.T. Meleck Distillers
 
Hosted by:
Michael Klein

Digging into the complex and surprisingly fascinating world of a single grain, The Rice Stuff is a conversation about more than just agriculture. Hosts Michael and Lesley serve as guides, pulling back the curtain on the entire journey of U.S.-grown rice, from the soil in the fields to its place on global tables. They achieve this by stepping aside to let the real experts speak: the farmers making daily decisions under the sun, the scientists in labs developing resilient varieties, the millers ensuring quality, and the marketers navigating international trade. Each episode of this podcast feels like a field visit or a behind-the-scenes meeting, uncovering narratives that intersect science, business, and environmental stewardship. You’ll hear about tangible conservation efforts that protect water and land, the economic strategies that connect American farms to overseas markets, and the technological innovations quietly transforming a traditional industry. It’s a detailed portrait of a staple food, revealing the dedication and ingenuity embedded in every bag. While those within the agriculture sector will find deep, relevant insights, the stories are told with a clarity that welcomes anyone curious about where their food comes from and the intricate systems that produce it. Tune in for genuine conversations that go beyond the surface, offering a new appreciation for the people and processes behind U.S. rice.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Rice Stuff
Podcast Episodes
#102 So You Want to Start a Rice Brand? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
Michael and Lesley explore brand creation, marketing, and loyalty with two USA Rice members who are blazing a path for their rice. Pam West of Texas Rice Milling, whose new Honestly Texas Rice brand is winning hearts and…
#101 Rice Research Redux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:00
In this episode of The Rice Stuff, hosts Michael and Lesley revisit a 2022 discussion on the importance of university extension programs to the rice industry. Dr. Steve Linscombe sits down with his colleagues Dr. Jarrod…
#100 Turning 100! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:13
In this landmark 100th episode of the podcast, hosts Lesley and Michael reflect on their podcasting journey, the many guests they've talked with, and gloat a little over all the world class TV shows that never made it to…
#99 Trading Tales: From USTR to USA Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:01
Time to talk trade. Michael and Lesley are joined by USA Rice's new(ish) Director of Trade Policy Karah Janevicius to talk global markets and trade policy. From India and the ITC to the tariffs and the WTO, Karah breaks…
#98 California Rice Rendezvous: A Journey into Field Day 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:59
Lesley shares details of her recent trip to the 2024 California Rice Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, including exploring different rice varieties and her surprise at the current research being done int…
#97 A Rice Cooking Class with Chef Hari Cameron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:37
Cooking classes, popular for many years, have seen a renaissance of late, likely a result of the pandemic lockdowns making people realize a) how much they enjoy cooking, and b) how much they don't know about cooking. USA…
#96 On the Road with Asiha Grigsby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:20
USA Rice's Asiha Grigsby is just back from three weeks on the road for the industry, home for a few days, and then off again to talk U.S.-grown rice. We were able to snag a few minutes between trips with Rice's Western H…
#95 Leadership Lessons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:23
The U.S. rice industry keeps leadership fresh with regular rotations. At the 2024 USA Rice summer business meetings, Chair and Mississippi rice farmer Kirk Satterfield passed the gavel to Arkansas miller Keith Glover. An…
#94 The 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:40
Summer means field days and food shows. Lesley talks briefly about the Eagle Lake, TX Field Day, while Michael brought back interviews and samples from the Specialty Food Association's 68th Annual Fancy Food Show that fe…