Welcome to the 29th Banff Pork Seminar!.
The Banff Pork Seminar is a learning conference, which provides industry participants a unique opportunity to update knowledge in science, production, management, food safety, economics and global consumption and production trends.
The last year of this century has carried the pork industry through the most significant structural changes in its history. Vertical integration and vertical coordination underpin mergers, acquisitions and new mega farms. This year's seminar will host some of the principals behind these changes. Analysts of international prominence will be in attendance to interpret and discuss their impact on our industry. The first conference of the new century is appropriately entitled "Beyond 2000 - Challenges and Opportunities".
The success and reasonable cost of this conference is highly dependent upon the generosity of our sponsors. These sponsors are listed in our proceedings and our appreciation for their support will be evident throughout the sessions. We encourage each of you to recognize and thank them for their valued participation in our industry and in this seminar.
The organizing committee of the Banff Pork Seminar is a group of volunteers who organize the program and the venue for you. These are busy professionals who are prominent and recognized leaders and I thank them for their energy, enthusiasm and common vision. Serving with them is truly a privilege!
Likewise, we are grateful to our co-operating agencies for their foresight, their guidance and their talented people. These agencies are Alberta Pork, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and The University of Alberta.
All of us thank you, our delegates, for your attendance and your participation in the Banff Pork Seminar. We hope you enjoy the conference and our time together in Banff!
Herb Holoboff
Chair, Organizing Committee