Various topics, such as how implementation of the cage ban in the EU is affecting the European egg industry and what the US can learn from it, among others, will be discussed at the Egg Industry Issues Forum held in Indianapolis, Indiana on 15-16 April 2014.

The 2014 Egg Industry Issues Forum will start at 1:00 PM on 15 April and will be located at the Radisson Indianapolis Airport Hotel. Confirmed sessions currently include:

• California Regulation Enforcement from Dr Annette Jones, D.V.M., California Department of Food and Agriculture - State Veterinarian and Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Services.
  
  
• The State of the European Union Egg Industry and Supply – free trade, production and consumption, animal welfare issues and more, presented by poultry economist Dr Peter Van Horne of Wageningen University and a technical consultant to the International Egg Commission.
  
  
• FDN: What you need to know presented by Dr Bernie Beckman D.V.M., the North American Director of Technical Services for Hy-Line International.
  
  
• Food Defense and its role in Food Safety led by Jon Woody, Senior Food Defense Analyst with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
  
  
• Flock One Results from the CSES Study Dr Janice Swanson of Michigan State University will provide a look at the results across the various areas of study covered by the Coalition for a Sustainable Egg Supply.
  
  
• SE Unveiled will review the extensive work USDA has done to study SE. Learn about the different experiments and what has been learned from Dr Deana Jones, USDA-ARS Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit Food Technologist.

The conference will conclude 16 April around 1 p.m. Additional sessions will be announced as the speakers are confirmed. Be sure to stop by the Egg Industry Center Booth at IPPE for the latest update or check the EIC website. The on-line registration system on the EIC website will open mid-January for early-bird registration.

"The goal of the annual forum is to increase awareness of the current and emerging issues among the attendees, disseminate latest research findings that are applicable to egg production/processing, and provide a platform for dialogue among those who have a stake in the industry," said Hongwei Xin, EIC Director and Endowed Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and Animal Science.

"Sometimes industry solutions are found through the latest research, and often the solution is for the industry to understand or better anticipate regulations or public policies that are forthcoming."