News Flash

Debate on commercial future of animal agriculture

05 Mar '08

2 min read

Trans-Tasman partners, New Zealand's AgResearch and Australia's CSIRO Livestock Industries (CLI) are holding a major industry and scientific conference later this year to examine the commercial future for high value food and fibre products from the farm.

The Conference will bring together eminent agri-business leaders and scientists from around the globe to discuss the current drivers of change in animal agriculture, cutting edge science for the future, and industry transformation using case studies to examine responses from the dairy, meat and fibre sectors.

According to AgResearch Chief Executive Dr Andrew West, the three day conference, to be held in Christchurch NZ will focus on the debate about on-farm value adding.

“As scientific research agencies, we think there is a promising commercial future for Australasian farmers to grow 'high value' food and fibre products. For example we envisage a future where some dairy farmers will produce milk for highly valuable neutraceutical products designed to enhance human health.

“However, we are aware that not all in industry share our optimistic views about the commercial future of these sorts of products and this conference will feature speakers who are less enthusiastic about on-farm 'value-adding' as well as those who are.

“This Conference will give scientists, industry and farm leaders, and policy makers a good opportunity to examine and debate the scientific possibilities and market forces that will shape research and industry approaches to future animal agriculture,” says Dr West.

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