The 2027 International Livestock Congress will be held March 3-4, 2027, in Houston, Texas, during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. This year's topic is "Vision for the Future of the International Beef Industry. Thinking Outside the Box: The Beef Industry in 2037."
NRG Center
1 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77054
NRG Center events utilize Gate 10 on the corner of Kirby and McNee.
Hotel
Home2 Suites by Hilton Houston Medical Center
6840 Almeda Rd @ Holcombe Blvd
Houston, Texas 77030
2027 International Livestock Congress
Vision for the Future of the International Beef Industry.
Thinking Outside the Box: The Beef Industry in 2037
| WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2027 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00 am | Registration | ||
| 8:00-8:30 am |
Welcome James O. Reagan, Ph.D., Chairman, ISEF, J&M Dorpers, Fort Collins, CO Chris Boleman, CEO, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Tammy Barrier, Chair, International Committee, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo |
||
| 8:30-9:30 am | Opening Keynote: New operating environment for beef internationally (2027-2037)Jayson Lusk, President & Dean, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK Moderator: Mindy Brashears, Undersecretary for Food Safety & Inspection Services, USDA, Washington D.C. | ||
| 9:30-10:00 am | Networking Break | ||
| 10:00-10:45 am | Changing structure & key constraint issues to face over next decade?Jarrod Gillig, Sr. VP & Managing Director of Beef, Cargill, Inc., Wichita, KS Moderator: Nelson Huerta, International Center for Food Industry Excellence, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX | ||
| 10:45-11:30 am | Beef Processing in 2037: The role of AI and new technology Doug Britton, Professor, Program Manager, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA Moderator: Keith Belk, Professor, Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO | ||
| 12:00-1:30 pm | Luncheon: Student Fellow Recognition | ||
| 1:30-2:15 pm | Demand under pressure: Consumers, Retail, and Competing Proteins Roland Fumasi, EVP & North American Head of Animal Protein, Rabobank, Chesterfield, MO Moderator: Jason Strong, Sr. Director of Strategy and Operations, MEQ, Brisbane, AU | ||
| 2:15-2:45 pm | Networking Break | ||
| 2:45-3:30 pm | Feeding systems in transition: Efficiency vs. resilience Kee Jim, DVM, Global Head of Animal Health & Agriculture, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, Okotoks, Alberta, CN Moderator: Tommy Wheeler, Research Leader, Meat Safety & Quality Research Unit, ARS, USDA, Clay Center, NE | ||
| 3:30-4:15 pm | Trade, policy and market power in a fragmented world Don Close, Sr. Animal Protein Analyst Terrain Ag, St. Louis, MO Moderator: Saul Mercado, CEO International Marketing Consultants, Dripping Springs, TX | ||
| 4:15-5:00 pm | Ranching in 2037: What will it take to thrive? Mark McCully, CEO American Angus Assoc., St. Louis, MO Moderator: Kevin Pond, Professor & Dean, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX | ||
| 5:30-7:00 pm | International Committee Reception (followed by rodeo) | ||
| THURSDAY, March 4, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00 am | Continental Breakfast | ||
| 8:00-8:15 am | Key USDA updates Dr. Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary for Food Safety & Inspection Services, Washington, D.C. Moderator: Cliff Lamb, Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX | ||
| 8:15-9:15 am | Hot topics: Current critical topics will be identified just prior to ILC. Each of the 3-5 speakers will take 7-8 min. to identify the current topic and the importance to the beef industry. | ||
| 9:15-9:45 am | Networking Break | ||
| 9:45-11:00 am | Closing Panel: 2037 Synthesis-Designing a Resilient Beef System. Speakers from day one and two sessions will take 10 minutes to address each topic followed by Q&A from audience. Moderator: Ross Wilson, EVP, Producer Owned Beef, Amarillo, TX | ||
| 11:00-11:30 am | Closing remarks & strategic takeaways Dr. Keith Belk, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO | ||