By Bruce Cochrane
The chair of the Banff Pork Seminar organizing committee suggests the Canadian pork industry needs to be more proactive in communicating to the public what's happening on farms and the good work being done in terms of animal welfare.
The theme of the 42nd edition of the Banff Pork Seminar, slated for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week in Banff, Alberta, is "The Challenge of Change."
Don Down, the chair of the Banff Pork Seminar organizing committee says the issue of animal welfare will be a key focus of this year's seminar, some key speakers will be addressing the topic and a fair bit of dialogue is expected on the issue.
Don Down-Banff Pork Seminar:
Certainly there's been a lot of media attention in the last month or two on animal welfare and I think consumers are always wanting to have more information in terms of how their food is produced.
When things become a bit more public it draws attention and sometimes it draws concern to the point.
I think the industry has responded in the fact that they're obviously quite concerned.
Any time that you have some negative attention out there, which has been in the media in the last month or two, is a concern.
I think the industry has taken a look at this and say, are we doing the best job of communicating what really is happening in our farms.
I believe there is a lot of misconception out there I think, as an industry, we need to do a better job of telling the good story.
Down expects discussion at this year's seminar to include, how do we advocate for our future and how do we stand up for what we're doing right?
He says, despite a lot of the perceptions out there in the media, our producers do a great job and go to work every day trying to do the best they possibly can for their animals.
Source: Farmscape