News Release
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Contact: Ben Richey |
NIAA
Symposium Challenges Animal Agriculture’s
Role for the Future
ST. PAUL, Minn.— Attendees to the National Institute for
Animal Agriculture’s (NIAA) symposium, Protecting the Global
Food Supply: Growing Concerns for Emerging Zoonotic Diseases, were
left with a very key message: we must strengthen animal and human health
together. The symposium, held on Thursday in conjunction with the 2005 NIAA Annual
Meeting, focused on the importance of animal agriculture’s role in
safeguarding international health, for domestic animals, wildlife and
humans. “There is a need for linkages to veterinarians, medical
doctors—all health sectors,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of
the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and associate
director for the Department of Homeland Security’s National Center for
Food Protection and Defense at the University of Minnesota.
“[Animal agriculture is] the traffic controller, at the interface
for the future.” Osterholm provided insight into
key diseases that have high zoonotic, or transmissible to humans,
implications such as influenza. Additionally,
he challenged leaders to take a more aggressive role in diseases that have
great social and economic implications. “You (animal agriculture) still
have to fight the uphill battle,” said Osterholm, “providing a road for the future.” Other presentations throughout the
day addressed key issues, such as the importance for international
coordination, the increasing importance of the World Animal Health
Organization (OIE), the need for more science-based standards worldwide,
use of technologies for prevention and control of disease and the
importance of communication throughout the world from technicians to the
general public. “Unless we build walls around
our border, we rely on the national services of other countries,” said
Dr. Kevin Walker, director of the Agricultural Health and Food Safety
Directorate at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on
Agriculture. “It’s in our best interest that we be strong.” Presenters at the symposium, in
addition to Osterholm and Walker, included: Dr. Michael Perdue, CDC Animal Influenza Liaison to
the World Health Organization; Dr. John Smith, chairman of the U.S. Animal
Health Association Committee on Transmissable Diseases of Poultry and
Other Avian Species; Dave Schmidt, International Food Information Council;
Dr. Pratuang Sudsakorn, Animal Health and Technical
Services for the CPF Group in Thailand; Dr. Jimmy Tickel, North Carolina
Department of Agriculture; Dr. Alfonso Torres, Cornell University College
of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Brian Evans, Canadian Food Inspection
Agency; Mike Robach, Cargill, Inc.; Dr. Susan Harlander, BT Safety, LLC;
and a panel of key leaders in Minnesota involved with a collaborative
effort to protect the global food supply.
Their presentations will be made available on the internet at www.animalagriculture.org
in the coming days. More than 400 animal agriculture professionals and officials
from the U.S. and abroad, attended the 2005 NIAA Annual Meeting, a record
attendance for the second straight year. The National Institute for Animal
Agriculture began operations in January 2000.
NIAA's mission is to provide a forum for building consensus and
advancing solutions for animal agriculture and to provide continuing
education and communication linkages for animal agriculture professionals. The organization is dedicated to
programs that work towards the eradication of diseases that pose a risk to
the health of animals, wildlife and humans; promote a safe and wholesome
food supply for our nation and abroad; and promote best practices in
environmental stewardship, animal health and well-being. Members include professionals
engaged in animal agriculture including producers, veterinarians,
scientists, government representatives and business executives. #
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