Agenda
**Virtual. All times are listed in Central Daylight Time**
Wednesday, April 21 (Economic Sustainability)
2:00-2:15 PM | Opening Remarks and Welcome – Kevin Maher, NIAA Chairman of the Board |
2:15-2:45 PM | Opening Keynote
Economic Viability … The Foundation of Sustainability If you picture sustainability as an equilateral triangle – all sides of equal length, the base should be economic viability. Any organization or industry that is not economically viable is not sustainable no matter how environmentally friendly or socially responsible they are. Fulcrum Global Capital’s Duane Cantrell will kick-off the day’s conversation addressing the need for economic viability while also highlighting the tremendous opportunities animal agriculture has for additional investment. Investments that, no matter if they focus on supply chain logistics, food safety, production, animal health treatments, or decision-making support, all affect the sustainability of animal agriculture as part of today’s food system. |
2:45-3:30 PM | Trade And … with Ambassadors Darci Vetter & Gregg Doud
Animal Agriculture is a global sector of today’s food system and a significant portion of the sector’s economic viability is derived from international markets. Ambassadors Vetter and Doud will dive into key learnings and insights from their time as the U.S.’s chief agriculture negotiators as, together, we explore the new landscape of building international trade relations and how sustainability is a growing aspect of international trade relations. Conversation moderated by Chelsea Good, Livestock Marketing Association |
3:30-3:45 PM | Networking and Technology Break |
3:45-4:30 PM | Economic Viability in Animal Agriculture with Kim Stackhouse-Lawson & John Newton
– Moderated by Chelsea Good, JD, Livestock Marketing Association While many conversations about sustainability begin with environmental stewardship, no organization or food system-sector can be sustainable if it is not economically viable. With combined experiences that have allowed Kim and John to work with a variety of leaders in animal agriculture, we will take a deeper dive into this foundational aspect of sustainability to better understand the realities of ensuring an economically viable sector while ensuring environmental stewardship and social responsibility. |
4:30-5:00 PM | Closing Keynote
Ag & Food Leaders, Unite! For the sustainable food and agriculture systems of the future, this is the decade that counts. A growing number of companies, organizations and individuals across the value chain are signing onto the Decade of Ag vision: A resilient, restorative, economically viable and climate-smart agricultural system that produces abundant and nutritious food, natural fiber and clean energy for a sustainable, vibrant and prosperous America. It will take collaboration, partnerships and investment to get there, as outlined in USFRA’s recent report on how to scale up climate-smart agriculture through transformative investment. We don’t yet have all the answers, but the Decade of Ag is about channeling our individual and collective strengths to tackle climate change, contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals and transform our rural economies. |
5:00-6:00 PM | Conversations and Cocktails with breakout rooms and guided conversations |
Thursday, April 22 (Environmental Sustainability)
10:00 AM-Noon | Council Meetings – Welcome, Agenda Overview and General Housekeeping
Animal Identification & Information Systems 10:10 AM: Brief comment on USDA Rule-making – Glenn Fischer (intent is to simply share the announcement re: pivot to rule-making by USDA and note that there will be no further commentary offered by USDA on this during our Council Meeting) 10:15 AM: Introduce Keynote topic: Information Systems: Commercial Databases and Information Sharing In the Private Sector – Glenn Fischer (Stress importance of databases and database system providers in the private sector; focus on the choices available to producers, the structure and protocols of systems and how they contribute to Disease Traceability and Value Creation across the industry) 10:25 AM: Featured Presenters: (10 minutes each segment, unless noted) – Ron Lane, Global Vet Link – (15 minute segment) John Saunders, IMI Global/Where Food Comes From, (with Bob Scherer-Tyson discussing supply chain value) – Callahan Grund, US CattleTrace – Gregg Barfield, Block Trust 11:05 AM: Panel Discussion and Q&A 11:25 AM: Any Other Business 11:40 AM: Council Business and Resolutions 12:00 PM: Adjourn Animal Health Emergency Management 10:10 AM: National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) Update – Dr. Julie Wallin, APHIS Veterinary Services, NADPRP Program Coordinator 10:50 AM: Ventilation Shutdown Plus as a method of depopulation in swine Dr. Angela Baysinger, Animal Welfare Lead NA, Merck Animal Health 11:30 AM: Animal Health Emergency Management (AHEM) Council Business meeting – Review and approve council resolutions. |
2:00-2:15 PM | Opening Remarks and Welcome |
2:15-2:45 PM | Opening Keynote – Ernie Shea, Solutions from the Land |
2:45-4:15 PM . . . . . . | Environmental Panel Conversation: The Power of Species Roundtables – Moderated by Kim Stackhouse Lawson, Ph.D., Colorado State University – Beef: Nicole Hoffman-Johnson, J.D., OSI Group – Dairy: David Darr, MBA, Dairy Farmers of America – Pork: Sara Crawford, Ph.D., National Pork Board – Poultry and Egg: Ryan Bennett, IPWA & U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs – Small Ruminant: Pat O’Toole – Aquaculture: Bill Dimento, High Liner Foods Join leaders from multiple species sectors of animal agriculture as we identify key insights from their work and collaboration on environmental stewardship. The conversation will allow us to identify opportunities for continued collaborations – especially across species sectors or value chain sectors. |
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Networking and Technology Break |
4:30-5:00 PM | Closing Keynote/Wrap-up
Designing Net Negative Carbon Agriculture |
5:00-6:00 PM | Conversations and Cocktails with breakout rooms and guided conversations |
Friday, April 23 (Social Sustainability)
8:00-8:15 AM | Opening Remarks and Welcome |
8:15-8:45 AM | Opening Keynote – Donald Moore, Global Dairy Platform |
8:45-11:15 AM . . . . | Social Panel One Conversation – A dairyman, a dietitian and a press secretary walk into a barn … what do their perspectives bring to sustainability? As customers and stakeholders explore a variety of additional topics as they make their food choices, it’s important to better understand the consumer decision-making process. With diverse backgrounds and insights, Ken, Mike, Kim, and Danette will share insights and guidance on how animal agriculture leaders ensure they are prepared for social responsibility conversations. – Moderated by Danette Amstein, Midan Marketing – Kim Kirchherr, MS RD LDN FAND ACSM-CPT, Registered Dietitian – Ken McCarty, McCarty Family Farms – Mike Matson, Kansas Farm Bureau |
11:15-11:30 AM | Networking and Technology Break |
11:30-12:00 PM | Closing Keynote/Wrap-up
The Evolving Opportunities and Challenges with ESG |
12:00-12:30 PM | Lunch Break |
12:30-2:00 PM | Annual Meeting including Council reports |

Sponsors
Gold
Merck Animal Health
Silver
Allflex USA, Inc
ABS Global
Bronze
Datamars, Inc.
Fort Supply
Kentucky Beef Council
Phibro Animal Health
Supporter
Livestock Marketing Association
Our Vision
NIAA is the leading resource for the animal agriculture industry and provides value to all stakeholders involved in providing safe and healthy food for the world.