Aspen Germany is delighted to announce the fourth cohort of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture.
The U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture, initiated by the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with its implementing partner, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, promotes transatlantic dialogue on shared challenges in agriculture and rural development and seeks to advance a more sustainable agricultural future. By bringing together stakeholders from key agricultural regions on both sides of the Atlantic, the forum addresses critical sector-wide challenges while strengthening exchange among rural communities. While the program is primarily geared toward farmers, it also brings together key stakeholders from academia, research, and industry. In addition to exploring the social, economic and political significance of agriculture in rural areas, each program year focuses on specific regions, agricultural sectors, and a central theme.
The fourth cohort will focus on health and wellbeing in the swine and poultry industries. Ensuring high standards of animal health and welfare in pig and poultry production is essential for economic viability, environmental sustainability, and food safety. On both sides of the Atlantic, these issues are becoming increasingly complex as consumer demand for sustainably and ethically produced animal products continues to grow. At the same time, producers face mounting challenges related to disease prevention and management.
The following participants were selected through an open application process to join the fourth cohort of this innovative transatlantic agriculture forum:
U.S. participants:
- Dr. Courtney Archer, Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois)
- Whitny Haley, Director of Animal Welfare, Simmons Foods, Inc. (Arkansas)
- Ellen Gardner, Partner/Owner, Gardner Family Farm (Minnesota)
- Crystal Nichols, Live Production Manager, S & N Enterprises, LLC and Chief Operation Officer, NC Center for Poultry Education (North Carolina)
- Richard Goforth, Area Specialized Agent for Poultry, NC State Extension (North Carolina)
- April Schattner, Associate Veterinarian, Carthage Veterinary Services (Michigan)
- Kelsey Holtz, Owner/Operator, Diekmann Farms (Michigan)
- Beth Rhyne, Owner, R&B Ryhne Farm, LLC (North Carolina)
German participants:
- Kathleen Wübbel, Farm Operator, Schweineaufzucht Parkentin GbR (Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania)
- Wilhelm Steffens, Owner, Steffens Mastschweine KG (North Rhine–Westphalia)
- Nina Kleine, Farmer Turkey Farm, Hof zur Haskenau (North Rhine–Westphalia)
- Jonas Frieß, Partner/Owner Family Farm, Frieß Farms (Baden-Württemberg)
- Veronika Drexl, Consultant, Pig consulting Schleswig-Holstein
- Jannik Pröbsting, Territory Manager Pork Value Chain, CEVA Tiergesundheit GmbH (North Rhine–Westphalia)
- Wolfgang Schleicher, Managing Director, German Poultry Association (Bavaria)
The cohort will begin its work with a series of digital meetings between January and June, followed by two study trips to Hildesheim, Germany, and Raleigh, North Carolina. A key outcome of the program will be a set of policy recommendations, which will be presented to relevant agricultural policy makers and stakeholders in both the United States and Germany.
To learn more about the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture, please click here: https://www.aspeninstitute.de/de/programme/programmuebersicht/transatlantik-programm/22906-2/
