ANIMALS IN THE FOOD SYSTEM CONFERENCE

Animals in the Food System Conference

With approximately 100 participants, the Animals in the Food System Conference was held November 3-4, 2004 , at Michigan State Universities Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners, Michigan.  Attendees came from a wide range of interests, from across the United States and Europe, to develop an analysis and understanding of the utilization of animals in sustainable food systems and understand the policy needs, ecosystem service possibilities, financial realities, ethical responsibilities and scale factors in raising, processing, distributing and marketing animals in a sustainable manner.

The conference explored the ecological, ethical and economical underpinnings for animal production that can provide the meat, milk and fiber product needs of a large population.  Issues were approached from several points of view:

In production, current strategies for small and medium scale production of animals in pastured, grazing systems with implications for scaling to meet the needs of, for example, 10 million people were explored.  Discussions   included an understanding of mixed grazing/grain systems and identified research and policy enablers in this area.

In processing, current opportunities and impediments for pasture, grazing systems with respect to broad adoption of these systems and the need for local, identity preserved processing that is economically viable were explored.  Research and policy enablers in this area were identified.

In distribution, various direct and indirect consumer marketing opportunities and impediments for pasture, grazing systems were explored.  This included identifying strategies and opportunities for value-labeled marketing within existing distribution systems including supermarkets, restaurants and college dining facilities.  Research and policy enablers in this area were identified.

In consumption, strategies for enhancing demand for products produced as discussed above were explored.  Research and policy enablers in this area were identified.

Full Conference Proceedings

Pasture-based Agriculture: Opportunities for Public Research Institutions (.pdf) by David Conner, Michael Hamm, Susan Smalley, and Debby Williams summarizes the major themes and issues emerging from the Animals in the Food System Conference. It outlines the current situation of pasture-based agriculture as identified by conference participants; highlights emerging issues facing farmers, consumers, businesses, policy makers and communities; and suggests opportunities for Land Grant Universities, Experiment Stations and Cooperative Extension Services.

Much of the work at this conference was accomplished in discussion groups, with comments summarized and integrated in the paper Pasture-based Agriculture: Opportunities for Public Research Institutions (.pdf) . Additionally, we wanted to make sure that each individual had an opportunity to directly express his/her ideas as well. At the end of the conference we asked each person to provide written feedback indicating his/her top three priorities for a pasture-based food system within four categories: Opportunities, Issues/Barriers, Policy Needs, and Scholarship Needs. We also asked each participant to list any of the opportunities, barriers, or needs expressed at the conference which they saw as less important or did not support.

In the Animals in the Food System: Individual Priorities (.pdf) document you will find the statements that integrate individuals’ feedback in an effort to reflect an overall “sense of the conference.” Following the integrated statements is a table that lists the verbatim feedback received from conferees.

For supplemental reading, The Economics of Pasture Raised Animal Products: Food, Markets and Community  by David Conner and Michael Hamm uses reviews of literature and interviews with key informants to provide an overview of knowledge about pasture-based agriculture, including the size and scope of the market, consumer demand, production efficiency, processing, distribution and marketing issues, and impacts on rural communities. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was a major conference sponsor.  The Michigan State University Kellogg Biological Station site of the conference is a major agricultural experiment station site in southwest Michigan .  It encompasses a bird sanctuary, forest, dairy, ecological and agronomic research.

Pasture-based livestock agriculture is characterized by animals being raised outside on pasture where they harvest a significant amount of their own food. Pasture-based products include meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. In many ways, pasture-based farming can embody the values and principles of sustainable agriculture: environmentally friendly; humane animal treatment; aesthetically pleasing; socially acceptable; economically viable; of appropriate scale for family farms.

Research indicates that significant numbers of consumers demand attributes associated with pasture-based products and are willing to pay premiums for them. However, these products are currently available mostly through niche markets.

We are focusing on identifying opportunities and obstacles for expanding the market for pasture-based products, including product promotion, and strategies for accessing broader market channels.

For more information on the Mott Group’s work on pasture-based agriculture, see the links below, or contact Dr. David Conner at (517) 353-1914 or connerd@msu.edu

Summary of Findings to Date:

Research brief, short summary of findings.

Overview of results, with more detail

Results of Individual Studies

Interviews of pasture-based farmers, processors and buyers

Statewide consumer poll

Review of Literature

Opportunities for grazing dairy farms

Economics: food, markets and community

External Links: Research from other institutions

Benefits of pasture-raised milk and meat

Benefits of pasture-raised swine, poultry and eggs

Grazing dairy farms in Wisconsin