When it comes to food, Texas consumers face a vast array of choices and a blizzard of buzzwords and information. To help consumers piece the puzzle together, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), in partnership with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), will host Food Dialogues: Austin, Sept. 18, 2014, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center.
Two dynamic panels will focus on today’s most pressing food issues—animal welfare and food production. Evan Smith, editor in chief and chief executive officer of the Texas Tribune, will serve as the moderator for the event.
The first-of-its-kind event is inspired by a new generation of people who love to eat. It will take an in-depth look at Texas agriculture and answer tough questions about diverse food production methods and animal welfare issues.
The first panel discussion, “Animal welfare: Beyond the hype” will address how Texas cattlemen provide proper care to raise livestock efficiently, even when their methods—animal handling, antibiotics, hormones—can be controversial. A panel of cattle experts will discuss the variations on animal husbandry techniques and technologies used in the Texas beef business.
The second panel discussion, “Farming methods. Consumer interpretation,” will address the information and misinformation consumers receive from the daily bombardment of food messages. Consumer decisions shape food supplies, which shape farming practices, and a panel of experts will discuss health and safety concerns related to the foods we eat and the technology used to grow them.
For an agenda and more information about the panelists, visit http://www.fooddialogues.com/events/fd-austin. The event will be streamed live on www.fooddialogues.com or you can follow the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #FoodD.