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Contact:
Bruce Babcock, Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development,
(515) 294-6758
Sandy Clarke, Communications Manager, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, (515) 294-6257
2001 AG FORUM TO EXPLORE THE EFFECTS OF NEW CONSUMER DEMANDS ON AGRICULTURE
AMES, IA - Now more than ever, consumers are demanding more choices and more information in the food marketplace. Some consumers' concerns about the environment, food safety and wholesomeness, and social and ethical issues in food production are shaping their decisions at the checkout counter. Whether it is free-range chicken and egg products, products free of genetically modified organisms, or coffee that's been imported according to "fair" rather than "free" trade principles, consumers who want to exercise their right to choose at the point of purchase are encouraging a response from enterprising producers, processors, and retailers.
The 2001 Agricultural Forum, "Extreme Demands-Extraordinary Products: A New Agriculture for a New Marketplace?" will explore these new demands and their effects on relationships and structures in agriculture. Speakers drawn from academia, agribusiness, retail, and ag services will discuss the sources of changing consumer preferences, such as rising U.S. and world income, lifestyle trends, media, and the influence of non-governmental organizations. Experts will give participants a preview of the trends on the horizon. Businesses that are capitalizing on opportunities in rapidly growing market segments will share information about the challenges they've faced and whether the rewards have balanced the risks involved. Speakers will also examine the role of technology-such as scanner/marketplace data, e-commerce, and identity preservation-in meeting emerging demands, as well as the implications of public policy for various classes of producers and products.
The Agricultural Forum is a one-day conference, sponsored by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University. The 2001 Forum will be held March 2 in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center, Ames. The registration fee is $90.
For the latest program and registration information, visit the Forum website: www.agforum.org, or contact Sandy Clarke: (515) 294-6257; e-mail: sclarke@card.iastate.edu
Copyright © 2001, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
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