How can we ensure sustainable cattle production systems for future generations?

Bertebos Prize conference

Ruminant’s production offers many benefits to society, but they do also provide difficult environmental challenges. Ruminants produce, for example, high quality food from low quality feed, but are at the same time a major source of greenhouse gases. Yet, grazing ruminants with their four stomach compartments help preserve pastoral landscapes, preserve biodiversity, conserve quality of soil and offer aesthetic values. Cows (catttle), sheep and goats are all ruminants, but during this conference we will focus on cattle since they are the dominant ruminant on the planet.

There is no easy way of meeting the growing demand for food and animal products while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and environmentally friendly impacts of livestock production. Science must contribute to providing answers to questions like these: Can the efficiency of ruminant production systems be improved? Are there more environmentally friendly ways of raising ruminant livestock? If so, what tools do we need? Can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions from meat and milk production?

The increasing demand for meat and milk will continue to force agriculture to lower its environmental footprint. Today’s farmers need to plan for the future. This conference will help provide information to enable farmers, researchers, policy makers and consumer organizations to deal with these complex issues now and in the future.

Programme

A background to the Bertebos prize conference

The Bertebos Prize was instituted in 1996 by Brita and Olof Stenström as a means of promoting education and research in the food chain. The prize consists of two parts, a diploma and 300,000 Swedish kronor, which are awarded in January every second year, followed by a two-day conference in Falkenberg in the following year. The award-winner plans the conference in collaboration with the Academy and opens the conference with a plenary lecture.

In 2011 the Bertebos Prize was awarded to Professor Karen Beauchemin, Alberta, Canada, for her pioneering research into reducing the environmental impact of ruminant animals without having a negative impact on productivity and animal husbandry.
Karen Beauchemin leads a broad research programme, the aim of which is, by means of advancing knowledge on ruminant nutrition, to reduce the environmental impact of these animals without having a negative impact on animal husbandry. Her research shows that by choosing the right quality and composition of the fodder it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions considerably and simultaneously to improve the health of the livestock and the production. For more information please visit www.berte.se.

Previous winners of the Bertebos Prize

2009 to Dr. Joachim von Braun, Washington DC, USA, for his outstanding work in development economics and as effective head of several development research institutions focusing on food, agriculture and rural poverty.

2007 to Professor Ingo Potrykus, Magden, Switzerland, who has been a leading scientist in the development of methods for DNA transformation in plants.

2005 to Professor Piotr Kowalik, Gdánsk, Poland, for outstanding multidisciplinary research in water dynamics in agriculture and forestry.

2003 to Professor Erik Steen Jensen, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL, now the Life Faculty of Copenhagen University ), Denmark, for his research on plant production, soil biology and environment, especially in organic farming systems,  and to Prof. John R. Porter, The Royal Veterinary and Landbohöjskole (KVL), Denmark, for his research for better understanding of the relationship between crops and their environment.

2001 to Professor Donald Grierson, University of Nottingham, England, for his groundbreaking research to better understand the plants’ maturity course.

1999 to Professor Wolfgang Witte, Robert Koch Institut, Wernigerode, Germany, for pioneering, scientific tracing of risks for animal and human health as well as for the environment associated with the use of antibiotic feed additives.

1997 to Professor Christopher Polge, Cambridge, England, for his exceptional scientific contribution to the methods within animal reproduction.

Accommodation

Room reservation at the hotel where the conference is held will be made by the attendee to info@strandbaden.se or +46 346-71 49 00.

When making a reservation give the code “KSLA” to get the Academy’s corporate rate. (single room from SEK 1 290 + VAT, double room from SEK 1 470 + VAT). Prices include breakfast, tax and service charges. Accommodation cost is paid to the hotel by the attendee. Cancellation of hotel bookings must be made to the hotel not later than 15 July 2012. Late cancellation is charged according to hotel regulations.

PLEASE NOTE that no other way to make hotel reservation is accepted. Neither the Academy nor the Bertebos Foundation is responsible for hotel bookings, cancellations or payments.

For hotel information and map, see the hotel’s website www.strandbaden.se

Other options as hostels are available upon request.
Skrea camping