By Chris Torres, Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — Look in the crystal ball and envision what animal agriculture might look like in 2030. Sound like a tough assignment? Now try getting people from the Humane Society of the United States and the National Pork Producers Council to agree on what animal agriculture should look like in 2030.
Sound impossible? It probably is.
But that wasn’t the goal of a symposium held Wednesday at USDA headquarters. In fact, organizers from a group called “Future Trends in Animal Agriculture” knew that coming to a consensus on what has become an emotional subject for many people was probably not realistic in just one day.
“The issue of animal agriculture has been so polarizing for so long,” said co-organizer of the group David Brubaker, a Lititz, Pa. native and former PennAg Industries vice president who now works for the University of Pennsylvania.
But the group believes a step in the right direction is getting people with very different opinions on the subject to “respectfully disagree.”
“If we can put our heads together, we can solve these problems,” Brubaker said. “I think we’re making some progress.”
About a dozen ag industry professionals gathered inside the Jefferson Auditorium at the sprawling USDA headquarters for the symposium.
Two U.S. Representatives, including one from Connecticut, shared their views on the government’s role in animal ag policy.
It was the 15th symposium organized by the group, which is co-headed by Ken Klippen, executive director of government relations and animal welfare for Sparboe Farms, the fifth largest shell egg producer and marketer in the U.S. The meeting was broken up into two parts. The morning session focused on predicting likely scenarios of what animal agriculture will look like by 2030, while afternoon session panelists talked about how they would like animal agriculture to evolve by 2030.
How Will it Look in 2030?
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), chairman of the House Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee, started the day out by giving his perspective on the government’s role in the industry’s future. Calling the issue “a delicate balance,” Scott said government regulation should work to ensure humane treatment of farm animals is a priority, but also remembering that these animals are part of the food system and are important to the profitability of many farmers.
“We are a civilized society and so we have to treat our farm animals in a civilized manner,” he said. “But we have to realize they are the food supply. Our farmers are business people. They want to turn a profit.”
Ron DeHaven, CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said change in animal agriculture standards is inevitable, given the emotions the issue brings out in people.
The issue of animal welfare is a social one, he said, backed up by science. But the science is not always “black and white.” “Science can determine what the level of risk is, but it can’t determine what kind of risk is acceptable,” DeHaven said.
Looking at the possible unintended consequences of making drastic changes will be key to creating a system that will be considered socially acceptable. Regulations that are too strict, he said, will lead to more farmers deciding to get out of raising animals with the possible result of production moving to other countries.
“We need to consider the unintended consequences,” he said.
A panel of four speakers also gave their views on the subject.
Andrew Gunther of the Animal Welfare Institute said the future will be driven by consumer demand and what consumers want, he said, is food that is raised humanely and safely. He criticized concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), particularly the use of antibiotics on animals and the waste that is produced by CAFOs.
He said concerns about climate change will lead to more pasture-based systems that are locally based and are better for the environment.
“The consumer will decide where they will be in 30 years,” Gunther said.
Barb Glenn of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, said better technology including the use of genomics is the best way to address feeding an increased population with less farms.
“Science has been the basis of the success we have had in our society,” Glenn said. “We think the future is extremely bright. The tool box has to be full of all the tools.”
Ray Stricklin of the University of Maryland’s Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, said the trend is moving toward larger farming systems, but he raised concerns about the impact larger farming operations will have on rural communities.
Small farms, he said, will have a role in the future, especially given the fact that small farms have been rediscovered in urban areas.
”I think there is room. Diversity of production offers security,” he said.
Adele Douglass of Humane Farm Animal Care said vertical integration may be good for some, but not for all and that the impact of increasingly larger farms on the farmers and farm workers should be thought about in the conversation.
“One size does not fit all,” she said.
Lancaster Farming: The Future of Animal Agriculture
Posted: December 4, 2009 by Certified Humane
By Chris Torres, Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — Look in the crystal ball and envision what animal agriculture might look like in 2030. Sound like a tough assignment? Now try getting people from the Humane Society of the United States and the National Pork Producers Council to agree on what animal agriculture should look like in 2030.
Sound impossible? It probably is.
But that wasn’t the goal of a symposium held Wednesday at USDA headquarters. In fact, organizers from a group called “Future Trends in Animal Agriculture” knew that coming to a consensus on what has become an emotional subject for many people was probably not realistic in just one day.
“The issue of animal agriculture has been so polarizing for so long,” said co-organizer of the group David Brubaker, a Lititz, Pa. native and former PennAg Industries vice president who now works for the University of Pennsylvania.
But the group believes a step in the right direction is getting people with very different opinions on the subject to “respectfully disagree.”
“If we can put our heads together, we can solve these problems,” Brubaker said. “I think we’re making some progress.”
About a dozen ag industry professionals gathered inside the Jefferson Auditorium at the sprawling USDA headquarters for the symposium.
Two U.S. Representatives, including one from Connecticut, shared their views on the government’s role in animal ag policy.
It was the 15th symposium organized by the group, which is co-headed by Ken Klippen, executive director of government relations and animal welfare for Sparboe Farms, the fifth largest shell egg producer and marketer in the U.S. The meeting was broken up into two parts. The morning session focused on predicting likely scenarios of what animal agriculture will look like by 2030, while afternoon session panelists talked about how they would like animal agriculture to evolve by 2030.
How Will it Look in 2030?
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), chairman of the House Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee, started the day out by giving his perspective on the government’s role in the industry’s future. Calling the issue “a delicate balance,” Scott said government regulation should work to ensure humane treatment of farm animals is a priority, but also remembering that these animals are part of the food system and are important to the profitability of many farmers.
“We are a civilized society and so we have to treat our farm animals in a civilized manner,” he said. “But we have to realize they are the food supply. Our farmers are business people. They want to turn a profit.”
Ron DeHaven, CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said change in animal agriculture standards is inevitable, given the emotions the issue brings out in people.
The issue of animal welfare is a social one, he said, backed up by science. But the science is not always “black and white.” “Science can determine what the level of risk is, but it can’t determine what kind of risk is acceptable,” DeHaven said.
Looking at the possible unintended consequences of making drastic changes will be key to creating a system that will be considered socially acceptable. Regulations that are too strict, he said, will lead to more farmers deciding to get out of raising animals with the possible result of production moving to other countries.
“We need to consider the unintended consequences,” he said.
A panel of four speakers also gave their views on the subject.
Andrew Gunther of the Animal Welfare Institute said the future will be driven by consumer demand and what consumers want, he said, is food that is raised humanely and safely. He criticized concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), particularly the use of antibiotics on animals and the waste that is produced by CAFOs.
He said concerns about climate change will lead to more pasture-based systems that are locally based and are better for the environment.
“The consumer will decide where they will be in 30 years,” Gunther said.
Barb Glenn of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, said better technology including the use of genomics is the best way to address feeding an increased population with less farms.
“Science has been the basis of the success we have had in our society,” Glenn said. “We think the future is extremely bright. The tool box has to be full of all the tools.”
Ray Stricklin of the University of Maryland’s Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, said the trend is moving toward larger farming systems, but he raised concerns about the impact larger farming operations will have on rural communities.
Small farms, he said, will have a role in the future, especially given the fact that small farms have been rediscovered in urban areas.
”I think there is room. Diversity of production offers security,” he said.
Adele Douglass of Humane Farm Animal Care said vertical integration may be good for some, but not for all and that the impact of increasingly larger farms on the farmers and farm workers should be thought about in the conversation.
“One size does not fit all,” she said.
Category: news