News

Date: 9/25/2007 12:00:00 AM

Title: ILC USA Theme Focuses on Global Consumer Demands for Beef

Global Beef Opportunities – Blazing New Trails
ILC USA Theme Focuses on Global Consumer Demands for Beef

International Livestock Congress-USA 2008 January 15, 2008
Denver, Colorado

The 2008 International Livestock Congress-USA, will be held Jan. 15 in Denver, Colo., and 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.

This year’s event will address global consumer demands, which continue to evolve, placing new perspectives, requirements and procedures on the US beef producer.

The ISEF works to partner with established livestock events or organizations in furthering its mission to build global beef networks and focus on the emerging issues and challenges facing the beef industry from an international perspective. These networks are developed with ISEF support and endorsement of International Livestock Congress (ILC) events.

Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is recognized as the premier livestock show in the United States and has attracted more than 3000 international visitors from 44 countries in the past seven years. It formed the National Western International Agribusiness Center in 1981 to address the growing international interest in the show.

“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.

“As I meet with the beef buyers around the world, the discussion frequently focuses on consumer demands within their country, along with their individual governmental requirements and their need to satisfy these demands,” added program committee co-chairman Mark Gustafson, who also serves as the vice president of international sales for JBS Swift & Company in Greeley, Colo.

The 2008 ILC-USA will address these issues by featuring a Global Consumer Demand Panel of international beef industry experts covering Asia/Oceania, Europe/Middle East and North America. Followed by a panel of international experts from Australia, South American and North America discussing how they are producing for the global market.

“An overview of other relevant issues such as the impact of biofuels/ethanol, supply chain management, global traceability, branded programs, other protein challenges, quality system assessment (QSAs) and country of origin labeling (COOL) will provide the attendees with solid quantifiable information to take back to the ranch,” said Peck.

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 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) headquarters for the latest new product concepts, a major retail grocery chain distribution center and state-of-the-art retail market.

Another element of the ILC-USA is the Student Travel Fellowship Program, presented by the ISEF. The program allows 25 students from nine countries to take part in the program and a career workshop concentrating on their futures in the industry. The ISEF focuses on cultivating and encouraging future thought leaders of the industry by providing an interactive real-world environment and experience to senior or graduate-level students from universities around the world through the fellowship program.

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 December 14, and $175 thereafter. Students may attend for $100. Registration includes the conference, grounds admission to the National Western, and all January 15 activities, including a beef tasting experience. For schedule and registration information, visit www.theisef.com or call 303-777-5662.

####

The purpose of the Foundation is to conduct and support educational events that will benefit stockmen internationally; and to foster and support other programs of education that will contribute toward broader and more effective science and technology in the practice of animal agriculture—for the benefit of stockmen worldwide.