American Society Of Animal Science Releases Future Research ...

The American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) addresses animal research and animal-based food challenges in new Grand Challenges documents. The ASAS Grand Challenges focus on five important issues in animal agriculture:

Animal health: Healthy animals produce healthy products for human consumption. Animal health research also decreases the risk of animal diseases reaching the human population. Support for animal health research would improve disease resistance, disease prevention and animal productivity. Read this document

Climate change: Animal agriculture is one source of greenhouse gas emissions, but animal agriculture is also directly affected by shifting climates. Natural disasters, droughts and heat waves can harm animals and make animal feed scarce. A better understanding of climate change would keep animal agriculture economically and environmentally sustainable.

Food safety: New technologies and basic microbial research can help scientists detect pathogens in the food supply. Research into food safety can decrease chance of contamination on the farm and in the kitchen.

Global food security: The U.N.?s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that one in seven people suffers from chronic hunger. New research could improve the nutrient content in animal products, increase production efficiency and reduce food wastage along the supply chain.
Animal well-being: Animal scientists work to balance science-based, economically sustainable animal care with public concerns about animal welfare. Animal scientists must conduct transparent, proactive research into welfare issues like animal housing and human animal harvest.

The Grand Challenges documents are ASAS endorsed and advocated research priorities for the future of animal science. With the support of policy makers and the public, animal scientists can continue to feed the world. To read the documents, go to: http://asas.org/public-policy/asas-grand-challenges

Source: http://swineweb.com/american-society-of-animal-science-releases-future-research-priorities/

eastman kodak richard cordray shannon de lima joe torre west virginia university michele bachmann jessica biel