 “Producers want to know what the beef consumer is demanding in the food service and retail outlet today, what is the definition of quality beef and what is the long-term beef consumer/demand outlook,” said Clint Peck, program committee co-chairman. Peck also serves as a director of Montana Beef Quality Assurance, Montana State University.
The 2008 ILC-USA will address consumer demand issues by featuring a global consumer demand panel of international beef industry experts, including Joel Haggard, senior vice president US Meat Export Federation (USMEF); John Brook, regional director, USMEF; and John Lundeen, executive director market research, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; and Homero Recio, COO, Agri-West International Inc.
A response panel will feature Don MacKay, CEO, Australia Agricultural Company Unlimited; Miguel de Achaval, general manager Cactus Argentina, S.A.; Gary Smith, PhD, university distinguished professor, Colorado State University and Dave Plett, president/CEO Western Feedlots, Alberta, Canada, discussing how they are producing for the global market. Randy Blach, executive vice president, CattleFax, will be the moderator.
Dr. Russell Cross, deputy vice chancellor of the college of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University will be the Leadership Luncheon speaker.
Afternoon sessions will provide an overview of other relevant issues such as the impact of biofuels/ethanol byproducts on beef quality in the US with speaker Lance Forster, nutritionist, Archer Daniels Midland Company; supply chain management strategies by John Butler, CEO, Beef Marketing Group; global traceability with Julie Stitt, general manager, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency; COOL presented by Jay Truitt, vice president of government affairs, NCBA; challenges from other protein, branded programs and QSAs by Tom Brink, senior vice president & chief risk officer, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding.
In addition, conference attendees will be offered a selection of area tours, 1) the JBS Swift & Company plant and Five Rivers Cattle Ranch Feeding LLC operation, or 2) the Safeway Distribution Center, Whole Foods retail market and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) headquarters for the latest new product concepts.
The ILC-USA 2008 will be held at Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, (303) 399-7500. A special room rate of $87 has been secured for conference attendees who specify ILC-USA. The cost of registration is $150 through Dec. 14, and $175 thereafter. Students may attend for $100. Registration includes the conference, grounds admission to the National Western, and all Jan. 15 activities, including a beef tasting experience. For schedule and registration information, visit TheISEF.com or call (303) 777-5662.
The 2008 International Livestock Congress-USA is funded in part by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The International Livestock Congress (ILC) events, produced in cooperation with the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF) and the National Western Stock Show, focus on providing solutions to US beef producers.
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