Antibiotic Summit

If you have a big agricultural operation involving animals, you may want to attend a conference in Arlington, Virginia at the beginning of May. Animal Agriculture Alliance spokesperson Hannah Thompson: “Antibiotic use in animal agriculture has been a dominant theme of media coverage and public discussion over the past year, with several restaurant and retail chains announcing new policies for suppliers. An expert panel representing distinct perspectives will share ideas of how the industry can change the narrative and effectively communicate about this complex topic at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2016 Stakeholders Summit coming up May 5-6 in Arlington, Va.

The “Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture: Changing the Narrative” panel will feature:

• Dr. Richard Raymond, food safety and public health consultant and former Undersecretary for Food Safety with the U. S. Department of Agriculture

• Dr. Leah Dorman, director of food integrity and consumer engagement, Phibro Animal Health

• Christopher Doering, reporter covering food and agriculture, USA Today

“Responsible antibiotic use is a difficult topic to communicate in an effective and easy-to-digest manner,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “Unfortunately, there are groups out there taking advantage of that and causing a lot of confusion among key stakeholders including the general public, the media and the retail/restaurant community. In order to ensure we continue to have access to antibiotics as critical tools in animal health, we need to find communication channels and accurate messages that work. We’re excited to bring together a group of experts with the perfect backgrounds to have that discussion during our Summit.”

This year’s Summit, themed “Securing Animal Agriculture’s Future: Action, Please!”, will focus on securing a bright future for animal agriculture by finding solutions to the challenges facing the industry today. Attendees will hear from thought-provoking speakers, participate in engaging discussions and leave with actionable ideas that they can immediately implement on their farms or in their businesses. Early registration rates for the conference end April 11th.  

The Stakeholders Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, allied industry, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities and government agencies.

Be sure to check the Alliance website for the most up-to-date Summit information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA16 for periodic updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-5160.