Welcome to the 35 Banff Pork Seminar -
As chairman of the Banff Pork Seminar Organizing Committee it is my pleasure to welcome you to this special seminar. This year marks the 35th consecutive Banff Pork Seminar and we plan to celebrate the previous three and a half decades of success. I certainly hope you have your tickets to the Mountview Barbecue, which will happen on Wednesday evening. I expect it will be a party to remember. This seminar has been and continues to be the premier event in the North American pork industry and I think it's very appropriate to congratulate the industry and the significant players who have made the Banff Pork Seminar what it is, on this milestone year. What a great job you have all done!!
This past year has been a gem when compared to previous years in the industry. The margins have been exceptional and we are apparently invincible. The truth is the bubble can burst at any time. This year's theme of 'Pork Wars - Internal and External Threats' gives us insights into the risks that we need to consider. Whether it be a major foreign animal disease, an up and coming pork producing country, or resistance by rural communities to have production units located in their back yard, the issues that need our attention are many. We need to face our challenges head on and that is what we are attempting to do at this seminar. With delegates from all over the world and globalization becoming a reality, our competitive edge needs to be evaluated year after year. This seminar allows us to look critically at Canada's position in relation to other countries and continue to hone that which we are good at.
I want to express much thanks to the organizing committee for its hard work and of course to Ruth Ball for her great management skills.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this 'Pork Family Reunion' and receive much from all those you interact with.
Best regards,
Jack Moerman
Chair, on behalf of the BPS Advisory Committee