Pork Expo Planned for 2002

June 12, 2001

Plans for the 2002 World Pork Expo have been approved by the National Pork Producers Council Board of Directors. The 2002 World Pork Expo is scheduled for June 6-8 in Des Moines, IA. The NPPC board named a task force to evaluate ways to enhance the 15-year-old event.

NPPC President Barb Determan, a pork producer from Early, IA, will lead the team to evaluate all aspects of hosting World Pork Expo, including biosecurity - particularly ways to safeguard against the spread of Foreign Animal Diseases, educational opportunities to offer and identifying ways to deliver information to pork producers.

"Expo is a great opportunity for pork producers to gather and access the latest information they need on their farms," Determan said. "Expo provides information, educational materials and research results and showcases achievements pork is making in worldwide merchandising efforts. The trade show features the latest equipment, technology and services for the swine industry."

At an NPPC Board of Directors meeting in April, the decision was made to cancel the 2001 World Pork Expo in an effort to be pro-active in preventing the introduction of Foot-and-Mouth Disease to the United States. The disease, which has devastated agriculture in Europe this year, has not been in the United States since 1929.

"We did not want to take any risk of a possible outbreak potentially spread through the hosting of World Pork Expo, an event attended by pork producers and pork industry leaders from around the world," Determan said. "We have seen tremendous devastation in countries around the world from Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreaks. In Great Britain, 3.2 million animals have been destroyed. Farmers' futures are in doubt and the tourism industry has been crushed financially due to travel restrictions."

By taking the step to cancel the 2001 World Pork Expo, the national organization sacrificed sharing information with pork producers, as well as millions of dollars in potential income. Part of the information that could have been shared at Expo is being mailed directly to pork producers. The World Pork Expo 2001 Official Souvenir Program & Directory will be mailed to pork producers next week. The 104-page magazine includes information about checkoff-funded programs that would have been highlighted at Expo and how to find more information about educational opportunities.