International conference ”Boars heading for 2018”
2011 Amsterdam
International conference ”Boars heading for 2018”
The European Commission and representatives of European farmers, meat industry, traders, retailers, scientists and NGO’s committed themselves to plan to voluntarily end surgical
castration of pigs in Europe by January 1st, 2018. In the EU many different views on this issue exist. To exchange knowledge and facts and identify solutions in the various countries, a
conference is organized: ‘Boars heading for 2018’. This international conference takes place on November 30th and December 1st and 2nd , 2011 in Amsterdam,The Netherlands. More information about
the issue, the conference, and an application form is published at boars2018.com.
Within the European Union, there is widespread support for the development of high-welfare production systems, in particular reducing the welfare implications of the castration of pigs. In the international markets many different views exist on the issue of castration and non-castration of pigs. Therefore, the European Commission and representatives of European farmers, meat industry, traders, retailers, scientist, veterinarians and animal welfare NGO‟s committed a plan to voluntarily end surgical castration of pigs in Europe by January 1st, 2018.
A European approach is necessary to develop the necessary tools, and ensure a fair distribution of the costs. In the Brussels Declaration on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs, major European stakeholders agreed that this practice should be abandoned by January 1st, 2018. To support this ambition an international conference „Boars heading for 2018‟ will be organized on November 30th and December 1st and 2nd, 2011 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. During the conference an international group of thought leaders representing food companies, major organizations
and universities will discuss challenges and opportunities in the marketing of pork products from non-castrated male pigs.
The objectives of this conference are to exchange knowledge and facts, to identify the challenges and to find possible directions for solutions in the various European countries. By participating delegates can make a difference, since their views will be included in the design of future international public and private strategies and courses of action for promoting the production and marketing of entire male pigs. Delegates will be challenged as the conference will be inspiring and thought-provoking. The conference enables to network and build and strengthen relationships. The final goal is to explore, develop and work together to meet the European declaration on ending surgical castration of pigs in 2018.The conference focuses on all organizations, companies, NGO‟s, scientists and journalists involved in the European pork supply chain. The working language at the conference is English.
The 2011 conference „Boars heading for 2018‟ is a follow-up of the successful international meeting in 2007 in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The Conference is organized under supervision of the Dutch Steering Committee of the research program “Stopping with castration of male piglets”. The program of this seminar is drawn up by Wageningen University and Research Centre in close co-operation with the Organizing Committee consisting of organizations and companies within the Dutch pork supply chain. Information and application forms for the Conference can be found at boars2018.com
For more information please contact
Dr.ir. Gé Backus
LEI – Wageningen University and Research Centre
[email protected]
[email protected]
Phone 0031 (0)70 3358 330
