This conference will focus on important issues concerning organic livestock and animal husbandry. It will concentrate upon health and food safety in organic livestock production systems, marketing trends, innovation in organic livestock production systems and livestock breeding strategies.

Leading organic livestock researchers and producers from throughout the world will share state-of-science research findings and production information during the three-day event.

Main objectives of the conference
Identification of best practices in organic livestock production and marketing
Advancement of animal health and welfare in organic production systems
Facilitating trade in organic livestock products

Target groups
Livestock producers, processors, retailers and traders
Developers of standards and certification systems for organic livestock
Governmental or intergovernmental organizations involved in the sector
Researchers, consultants and other service providers
Veterinarians and animal nutritionists

The main issues covered by the conference program include:
Livestock standards and regulations
Trends and opportunities in organic livestock production
Animal health and food safety in organic livestock production systems
Best practices for the production and management of various animal species
Livestock breeding

The conference will begin on August 23 with tours of organic livestock farms in the Twin Cities area, including lunch and a tour of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

During the evening of August 23, opening remarks will be delivered by Minnesota’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Gene Hugoson, and the UMN’s Dean of Extension, Bev Durgan. The opening keynote will given by Dr. Fred Kirschenmann of Iowa State University’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Dr. Kirschenmann will discuss, “Animals in an Organic System – Exploring the Ecological, Social, and Economic Functions of Animals in Organic Agriculture.”

Dr. Mette Vaarst, DVM, of the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, will speak on “Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety Through Organic Methods” during the morning keynote on August 24. Dr. Vaarst’s keynote address will be followed by workshops on organic poultry, dairy, sheep, hogs, and beef, as well as organic livestock standards. Groundbreaking research will be presented on differences between antibiotic-resistant bacteria on organic vs conventional livestock farms.

Noted author, researcher, and acclaimed speaker Dr. Temple Grandin will present the evening keynote, which will be held in the North Star Ballroom of the UMN Student Center. Dr. Grandin, an autistic woman who has developed humane livestock handling systems used worldwide, will present “Animals in Translation,” which explores how animals see the world.

The evening of August 24 will conclude with a dance party in the North Star Ballroom, with music provided by The Pheromones!

Dr. David Wallinga, MD, from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, will give the morning keynote on August 25. Dr. Wallinga will discuss “Antibiotic Resistance and the Organic Alternative.” There will be workshops on humane treatment, biosecurity, animal health, market access, milk quality, and food safety.

The closing keynote will be given by Jim Riddle, the UMN’s Coordinator for Organic Agriculture Outreach, who will discuss “Fostering Organic Livestock Research – Priorities and Preferences.” The program will conclude with reports from session moderators on key findings of the conference, along with a conference resolution, presented by Angela Caudle, IFOAM’s Executive Director.

Delicious local organic food will be served throughout the conference, with donations from Gardens of Eagan, Organic Valley, Stonyfield Farm, Nancy’s Organic Yogurt, The Wedge, French Meadow Bakery, Coop Partners Warehouse, Frey Vineyards and Cornercopia, the UMN’s Student Organic Farm on the St. Paul campus.

Conference Tour
The conference tour will take place on August 23, 2006, and is included as part of the registration fee. Participants will meet for a casual breakfast and welcome address at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education Center the morning of the 23rd, and will subsequently board buses to tour various organic animal production facilities in the Twin Cities area, and all participants will meet at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (www.arboretum.umn.edu), for a certified organic lunch. The Arboretum, a jewel of Minnesota, features spectacular annual and perennial display gardens, collections of plants developed for northern climates, natural and native areas, and demonstration gardens.

Conference Secretariat
IFOAM Head Office
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel: ++49-228-92650-16
Fax: ++49-228-92650-99
Email: n.sorensen@ifoam.org

Program Committee
Jim Riddle, Program Coordinator, United States
Mette Meldgaard, IFOAM World Board Member, Denmark
Dr. Mahesh Chander, Senior Scientist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), India
Dr. Robert Koelher, University of Minnesota
Professor Neil Macgregor, New Zealand
Barbara Früh, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)

Leading organic livestock researchers and producers from throughout the world will share state-of-science research findings and production information during the three-day event.

Main objectives of the conference

* Identification of best practices in organic livestock production and marketing
* Advancement of animal health and welfare in organic production systems
* Facilitating trade in organic livestock products

Target groups

* Livestock producers, processors, retailers and traders
* Developers of standards and certification systems for organic livestock
* Governmental or intergovernmental organizations involved in the sector
* Researchers, consultants and other service providers
* Veterinarians and animal nutritionists

The main issues covered by the conference program include:

* Livestock standards and regulations
* Trends and opportunities in organic livestock production
* Animal health and food safety in organic livestock production systems
* Best practices for the production and management of various animal species
* Livestock breeding

The conference will begin on August 23 with tours of organic livestock farms in the Twin Cities area, including lunch and a tour of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

During the evening of August 23, opening remarks will be delivered by Minnesota’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Gene Hugoson, and the UMN’s Dean of Extension, Bev Durgan. The opening keynote will given by Dr. Fred Kirschenmann of Iowa State University’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Dr. Kirschenmann will discuss, “Animals in an Organic System – Exploring the Ecological, Social, and Economic Functions of Animals in Organic Agriculture.”

Dr. Mette Vaarst, DVM, of the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, will speak on “Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety Through Organic Methods” during the morning keynote on August 24. Dr. Vaarst’s keynote address will be followed by workshops on organic poultry, dairy, sheep, hogs, and beef, as well as organic livestock standards. Groundbreaking research will be presented on differences between antibiotic-resistant bacteria on organic vs conventional livestock farms.

Noted author, researcher, and acclaimed speaker Dr. Temple Grandin will present the evening keynote, which will be held in the North Star Ballroom of the UMN Student Center. Dr. Grandin, an autistic woman who has developed humane livestock handling systems used worldwide, will present “Animals in Translation,” which explores how animals see the world.

The evening of August 24 will conclude with a dance party in the North Star Ballroom, with music provided by The Pheromones!

Dr. David Wallinga, MD, from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, will give the morning keynote on August 25. Dr. Wallinga will discuss “Antibiotic Resistance and the Organic Alternative.” There will be workshops on humane treatment, biosecurity, animal health, market access, milk quality, and food safety.

The closing keynote will be given by Jim Riddle, the UMN’s Coordinator for Organic Agriculture Outreach, who will discuss “Fostering Organic Livestock Research – Priorities and Preferences.” The program will conclude with reports from session moderators on key findings of the conference, along with a conference resolution, presented by Angela Caudle, IFOAM’s Executive Director.

Delicious local organic food will be served throughout the conference, with donations from Gardens of Eagan, Organic Valley, Stonyfield Farm, Nancy’s Organic Yogurt, The Wedge, French Meadow Bakery, Coop Partners Warehouse, Frey Vineyards and Cornercopia, the UMN’s Student Organic Farm on the St. Paul campus.

Conference Tour
The conference tour will take place on August 23, 2006, and is included as part of the registration fee. Participants will meet for a casual breakfast and welcome address at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education Center the morning of the 23rd, and will subsequently board buses to tour various organic animal production facilities in the Twin Cities area, and all participants will meet at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (www.arboretum.umn.edu), for a certified organic lunch. The Arboretum, a jewel of Minnesota, features spectacular annual and perennial display gardens, collections of plants developed for northern climates, natural and native areas, and demonstration gardens.

Program Committee

* Jim Riddle, Program Coordinator, United States
* Mette Meldgaard, IFOAM World Board Member, Denmark
* Dr. Mahesh Chander, Senior Scientist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), India
* Dr. Robert Koelher, University of Minnesota
* Professor Neil Macgregor, New Zealand
* Barbara Früh, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)

Further Information
For further information about the conference, including opportunities for sponsorship, contact Neil Sorensen, Manager, Communications and Events, at n.sorensen@ifoam.org

Conference Secretariat
IFOAM Head Office
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str.5
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel: ++49-228-92650-16