Experts to discuss changing the public narrative around antibiotic use at Alliance Summit

Early registration ends April 11th  

April 7, 2016 – 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.

Details:

Early registration (available through April 11, 2016) for the one-and-a-half day event is $375 for Alliance members, $425 for non-members and $325 for those in government or academia. Members of the media receive complimentary registration and should contact Hannah Thompson at hthompson@animalagalliance.org for instructions on how to register. Registration materials and full event schedule can be found at www.animalagalliance.org/summit.

This year’s Summit will be held at the Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington, Va. Rooms are available first come, first serve by visiting the hotel’s website or calling 1-888-627-7076.

The 2016 Summit is approved for 10 ARPAS CEU’s. ARPAS members in attendance can obtain this credit using the ARPAS website (www.arpas.org).

Refer a Friend:

Help us spread the word about Summit! If you refer a friend to attend the 2016 Stakeholders Summit who has never attended a pervious Stakeholders Summit and they list your name as their recommender when they register for the event, you’ll both be entered in a drawing to win a $100 gift card! Each referral will count as one entry and there is no limit on the number of entries for referrers. We will give away two $100 gift cards at the 2016 Stakeholders Summit – one drawing for referrers and one drawing for those who were referred. All registrations with a referral listed made until online registration closes on May 4 will be entered. Must be present at the 2016 Stakeholders Summit to claim your gift card.

Get involved:

Show your support for the Alliance’s outreach efforts by becoming an official Summit sponsor today! For a complete listing of Summit sponsors or to watch video recordings from the 2015 Summit please visit www.animalagalliance.org/summit. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Allyson Jones-Brimmer at ajonesbrimmer@animalagalliance.org.

Current 2016 sponsors include: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Meatingplace, Farm Journal Media, Watt Global Media, Farm Credit, American Feed Industry Association, National Pork Board, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Alltech, Zoetis, Diamond V, Charleston|Orwig, National Pork Producers Council, Merck Animal Health, Smithfield, Provimi, Bayer Animal Health, PotashCorp, Seaboard Foods, Iowa Soybean Association, Aviagen, Cattle Empire, United Soybean Board, Elanco Animal Health, Council for Biotechnology Information/GMO Answers, The National Turkey Federation’s 20 by 2020 Project, United Egg Producers, Kemin Industries, American Veal Association, Cobb-Vantress, GNP Company, Agri Beef Co., National Chicken Council, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Dairy MAX, Live Oak Bank, Millennium Research Inc. and the Food Industry Environmental Network.

In addition to sponsoring the Summit, companies, associations and individuals can support the Alliance’s outreach and engagement efforts by donating to the Silent Auction. Proceeds from the 2016 Silent Auction at the Summit will support the Alliance’s College Aggies Online (CAO) program. CAO helps train the next generation of leaders in agriculture by challenging students to go out of their comfort zone to engage online and on campus about current and emerging issues facing agriculture. Previous auction donations have included goods and services such as artwork, quilts, jewelry, craft items, model farm equipment, celebrity autographed items, gift baskets, gift certificates, food items, wine and sporting or entertainment event tickets. To support CAO through the Silent Auction, contact Allyson Jones-Brimmer at ajonesbrimmer@animalagalliance.org.

 About the Alliance:

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is an industry-united, nonprofit organization that helps bridge the communication gap between farm and fork. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.
Find the Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.

Category: Press Releases

Tag: Antibiotic Use, Stakeholders Summit,