Thursday, May 15, 8:45am – 12:15pm
Tamalpais Room, The David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way at Oxford Street
Panel 1: Innovative Livestock Production Practices and Their Impacts:
Scientists’ Perspectives
Panel 2: Spreading Sustainable and Organic Livestock Practices:
Practitioners’ Perspectives
Growing public attention has been directed to livestock production and its implications in the US and worldwide. Serious concerns revolve around farm animal welfare, the carbon footprint of farm animals (especially within confined facilities), water pollution, and health and environmental impacts of high-animal-protein diets. On the other hand, increasing numbers of producers and programs are developing more sustainable and organic approaches in livestock management, aiming to reduce environmental impacts, and seeking to enhance the health of soils, animals, plant, ecosystems, and people. The panelists will talk about both innovations and scientific findings in livestock operations, including dairy, beef, and pork production, and discuss the environmental, economic and social outcomes. The panel will include a discussion of how and why such practices can contribute to the health of soils, animals, farms, and people. The panelists will discuss critical questions such as: How can such innovative practices be extended across the country? What are the main barriers to change, and how can those be overcome? More broadly, how do sustainable animal protein production and consumption patterns fit into the future of global food systems?
AGENDA
8:45 am – Sign in, Welcome and introduction, coffee, tea and light breakfast food
9:10 am – Opening: Welcome and Overview
9:15 am – Panel 1: Innovative Livestock Production Practices and Their Impacts:
Scientists’ Perspectives
Moderator: Jonathan Gelbard, Conservation Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council
Speakers:
Chuck Benbrook, Research Professor, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University
Cindy Daley, Professor, College of Agriculture, Cal State University Chico
Nathan Sayre, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Geography, University of California, Berkeley
10:30 am – Break
10:45 am – Panel 2: Spreading Sustainable and Organic Livestock Practices:
Practitioners’ Perspectives
Moderator: John Wick, Co-founder, Marin Carbon Project; Co-owner, Nicasio Native Grass Ranch
Speakers:
Sustainable Livestock Award Winner (from Growing Green Award Program, TBA)
Russ Kremer, Owner, Ozark Mountain Pork Cooperative
Ward and Rose Burroughs, Owners, Vista Livestock Company and Burroughs Family Farms
12:00 pm – Synthesis and Follow Up
12:15 – Conclude
Free and open to the public: no registration necessary.
Cosponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Organic Valley.
