With the need to increase food production to feed the world’s growing population staring animal agriculture in the face, Dr. Robert Fourdraine, chairman of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, says NIAA chose to make “Meeting Growing Production Demands with Integrity” its Annual Conference focus. “NIAA’s Annual Conference, April 11-14, in San Antonio, Texas, will address animal agriculture’s challenges and opportunities associated with meeting this increased food need and zero-in on consumers’ role in food production today and hereafter,” states Dr. Nevil Speer, chair of NIAA’s Annual Conference planning committee.

“We’re bringing high-level speakers with topics highly relevant to animal agriculture as well as consumers of agricultural products. This conference is not designed just for NIAA’s membership; its international scope should be important to today’s consumers, as they have a stake in their food production.”

The opening general session, “Elements of a Stable Food Supply,” will frame the Conference program and outline the challenges to animal agriculture. The program will establish and illustrate the need for food, as well as the demands that will be placed on producers.

Opening general session topics and presenters:
• “Food Security and the Implications of World Economic Conditions and the Role of Animal Agriculture” – Dr. Terry Barr, senior director of industry research, CoBank, Washington, D.C.
• “The Overarching Demand for Food and Implications for Resource Use and Ecosystems” – Dr. Frank Mitloehner, associate professor and air quality extension specialist, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
• “Consumers' Perceptions and Role in Understanding Current and Future Production Practices” – Charlie Arnot, Center for Food Integrity, Kansas City, Missouri

The closing general session, “Building Consensus and Developing Solutions,” will expand upon discussions from the opening general session as well as presentations and discussions in NIAA’s species committees and issues council sessions.

Closing general session topics and presenters:
• “International Perspective on Initiatives to Increase Food Production Capabilities in Responsible Systems” – Dr. Peter Groot Koerkamp, professor in biosystems engineering/agrotechnology & interim professor in animal production systems, Wageningen University, Netherlands
• “Addressing Consumer Concerns with Modern Food Production: Bringing Producers, Academia, and Health Professionals Together” – David Schmidt, president & CEO, International Food Information Council, Washington, D.C.
• “Legal Challenges and Ramifications of Food Production Systems and Food Safety” – Mark Anstoetter, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City, Missouri
• “Producer Perspectives and Initiatives on Increasing Food Production with Integrity” – Clint Hickman, Hickman Family Farms, Buckeye, Arizona.

Sandwiched between Tuesday’s opening general session and Wednesday’s closing general session will be five NIAA species committee meetings – Bovine Committee, Equine Committee, Poultry Committee, Small Ruminant Committee and Swine Committee – and six NIAA issues council meetings – Animal Care Council, Animal Health Emergency Management Council, Animal Agriculture Advocacy Council, Animal Identification and Information Systems Council, Emerging Diseases Council and Global Animal Health, Food Security and Trade Council.

“Committee and council meetings are where more specific topic presentations are delivered,” Speer explains. “Again, speakers will be highly regarded national and international experts.

“These meetings get down to the nitty-gritty of what’s important to each specific species and issue area and it’s where significant input is received from attendees. Resolutions resulting from these committees and councils have national relevance and are shared with officials within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other government agencies and national organizations involved in U.S. animal agriculture.”

Individuals wishing to register for this national conference may do so at www.animalagriculture.org. To learn more about the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s “Meeting Growing Production Demands with Integrity” Annual Conference, call NIAA at (719) 538-8843. PD

—From NIAA news release