Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 5/5/10

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is hosting, in partnership with USDA, a symposium on the topic of "Sustaining Animal Agriculture: Balancing Bioethical, Economic, and Social Issues."

The free symposium is June 8 to 10 in Washington D.C. at the Jefferson Auditorium in USDA's South Agriculture Building.

Presenters and attendees will discuss the effects of regulations on food-animal agriculture at all levels, including the economics of production, and analyze the intended — and unintended — consequences of the regulations.

Speakers include R. Douglas Hurt of Purdue University, Ronald Plain of the University of Missouri, Charlie Arnot of CMA Associates in Kansas City, Janet Riley of AMI, James (Tres) Bailey from Walmart, Mike Morris from YUM Brands, and Mike Mullins from Cargill.

Topics of discussion include the ethic use of food animals, building trust in contemporary food production, the need for collaboration, food security, sustainability myths and "musts", and whether the world's poor have a place in the discussion.

After the symposium, published proceedings will be available, on the USDA's Animal Welfare Information Center site as well as the National Institute for Food and Agriculture Web site and the site for CAST. 

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