The challenge of defining and measuring sustainability will be explored at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s annual Stakeholders Summit, to be held May 6-7, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. Early registration is now available for the 2015 edition of the Alliance’s showcase event, themed “The Journey to Extraordinary.”
On the opening day of the Summit, a duo of industry experts will explain how their respective industries have made establishing a scientific approach to gauging sustainability a priority. On this panel, Paul Bredwell, vice president of environmental programs for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, will provide details about U.S. Poultry’s developing sustainability initiative. Joining him will be Dr. Roger Cady, global sustainability lead for Elanco. Dr. Cady will share how Elanco is integrating productivity and environmentally sustainable practices within the dairy industry. The final panelist will be Brian Jones, responsible sourcing manager with Nestlé North America Procurement, who will share how Nestlé is incorporating the concept of sustainability into supplier relationships and purchasing decisions.
Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer for JBS USA, will address Summit attendees on the second day of the event about the animal agriculture industry’s shared journey of continuous improvement, highlighting how all members of the supply chain have a role to play in ensuring a sustainable future. In addition to his role with JBS USA, Bruett serves as the president of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
“Sustainability is a buzzword that comes up frequently when considering the future of agriculture,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “While everyone seems to agree on the importance of a sustainable industry, defining the concept and assigning metrics to gauge our progress in this area is not as clear-cut. Our speakers will help attendees understand how different sectors of the industry are addressing the challenge of taking sustainability from a tenuous idea to something that’s ingrained in company and industry culture and decision-making.”
The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference, ideal for networking across sectors of the food chain as it is attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislators, universities and government agencies. The 2015 event, set in Kansas City, Mo., will be the first edition of the Summit held outside of the Washington, DC area.
This year’s event will explore animal agriculture’s continuous efforts to embrace new technologies that will help feed a growing population while measuring sustainability, engage consumers in innovative ways to bridge the knowledge gap, and highlight initiatives that demonstrate agriculture’s commitment to transparency.
Details: Early registration, which ends April 8, for the one-and-a-half day event is $375 for Alliance members and $425 for non-members; $325 for those in government or academia. Media and students interested in registering should contact Hannah Thompson. Registration materials and a full event schedule can be found on the Summit website.
This year, the Summit will be held at the beautiful Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. Rooms are available at a special group rate of $164/night on the hotel’s website or by calling 866-856-9717. The hotel cut-off deadline is also April 8, 2015.
As always, the Alliance’s Stakeholders Summit will be social! Be sure to follow the hashtag #AAA15 for updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-1411.
Get involved: Show your support for the Alliance’s engagement efforts by becoming an official Summit sponsor today! Current 2015 sponsors include U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, Vance Publishing, Meatingplace, the Farm Credit System, Watt Global Media, American Feed Industry Association, United Soybean Board, Iowa Soybean Association, National Biodiesel Board, Protect the Harvest, National Turkey Federation, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Food Industry Environmental Network, Kemin, Kansas Livestock Association, Brakke Consulting, AgriBeef, Kansas Farm Bureau, Dairy Max, and other partners.
Please contact Kay Johnson Smith, president and CEO, at (703) 562-1412 to find out how to get involved by sponsoring the event.
Source: Animal Agriculture Alliance
