May 24, 2010
AMES, Iowa — The latest Ensminger international animal industry conference was held May 19-21 in Lleida, Spain. The event was organized by Iowa State University and the University of Lleida.
"Adapting Animal Production to Changes for a Growing Human Population" brought experts from around the world to present on issues impacting the future of animal production. About 150 students, faculty, producers and animal industry representatives from 16 countries were in attendance.
This Ensminger School was the latest in a series that began more than 50 years ago. Marion Eugene Ensminger was dedicated to animal agriculture education. He served on the faculty at universities in Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington. In 1964, he launched a series of technical agriculture seminars held in more than 70 countries.
Iowa State faculty got involved with the Ensminger schools in 1990. An endowment left to the ISU Foundation following the death of Ensminger and his wife Audrey helps finance the continuation of his international animal agriculture conferences, which are designed to educate and train people around the world to improve animal agriculture.
Iowa State recognized the couple by creating the Ensminger International Chair. Max Rothschild, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture in animal science, was appointed to the Ensminger International Chair in 2007 and leads the Ensminger schools.
"The conference looked at the challenge of feeding people in the future," Rothschild said. "Talks by international scientists and policymakers, plus five faculty from Iowa State, addressed issues of technology, feeding, genetics, water and waste, animal behavior and training future animal scientists."
Maynard Hogberg, chair of Iowa State's animal science department, spoke on the importance of training animal scientists for the future.
"Training the next generation of animal science professionals will require students to have a global perspective," Hogberg said. "We must double food production in the next 40 years to keep up with population demand. And we must do that in a way that minimizes environmental impact, improves food safety and uses appropriate animal welfare standards."
Others on the program from Iowa State were Ramesh Kanwar, agricultural and biosystems engineering chair; Jack Dekkers, animal science professor; Susan Lamont, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in animal science; and Anna Johnson, assistant animal science professor.
More details, including the conference proceedings, are available here.