Producers of all commodities know the landscape is changing in food agriculture. Today?s consumers are more connected and are asking more questions than ever before. It can be overwhelming trying to advocate for your industry when you are also trying to run your operation. There is help for pork producers.
The National Pork Board (NPB) is going to be holding their first-ever Swine Innovation Summit on Tuesday, September 17th, in Indianapolis. The summit will focus on three key areas: emerging technology, new and dynamic business models and consumer behaviors which impact shopping preferences and food choices.
Andy Brudtkuhl is the NPB?s Director of Emerging Technology. He says, ?Today?s consumers literally carry supercomputers in their pockets and have access to information ? both accurate and misleading ? that they leverage in making on-the-spot purchase decisions. In the span of a few short hours, we intend to educate today?s pig farmers on what they need to know and how they must adapt to the changing world in which we live.?
Brudtkuhl continues, ?Changing food production practices also includes technology that is disrupting not only how food is produced, but how it is transported, presented and sold to unknowing consumers. Understand, this is a trillion-dollar industry and it has never been more important to be ahead of emerging trends.?
The first annual Swine Innovation Summit is a collaborative effort between the National Pork Board and SVG Ventures-THRIVE to highlight entrepreneurs as it launches the THRIVE Swine Startup Showcase specifically for pork producers and swine industry partners.
?Our ultimate goal is to drive innovation and to solve critical challenges facing the agriculture industry in the Midwest today and our expanding partnership with National Pork Board reflects this vision,? said John Hartnett, CEO SVG Ventures.
The five finalists hand-selected to pitch on stage at the Swine Innovation Summit are BinSentry, Hog Wash, ProteoSense, SwineTech, and Teichos Labs. The summit is focused on developing strategic solutions to improve swine farming sustainability practices of reducing land and water usage, lowering livestock carbon footprint, improving food safety, and protecting animal welfare.
The Conference is free of charge to pork producers, veterinarians, and industry allies to attend. Interested attendees can see the agenda of the Swine Innovation Summit and register here.
