The North American Meat Institute announced speakers for its Animal Care and Handling Conference for the Food Industry, which will take place October 15-16, 2015, in Kansas City, Missouri. Carlos Saviani, vice president of sustainable food at the World Wildlife Fund, will speak at the conference's opening session. Other featured speakers include animal welfare expert Temple Grandin, Ph.D., of Colorado State University; Food Safety and Inspection Service Humane Handling and Enforcement Coordinator Patty Bennett, DVM; and Clinical Practice Veterinarian and Lecturer Brad Jones, DVM, of The University of Nebraska. The conference is the leading animal welfare educational opportunity for meat companies, their customers and those involved in the production and management of livestock and meat products. Educational sessions are designed to help companies improve productivity, efficiency and product quality, and will offer an overview of the most current humane handling and stunning practices.

Co-sponsors include American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Meat Processors, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Meat Science Association, Animal Agriculture Alliance, Canadian Meat Council, Chicago Midwest Meat Association, Food Marketing Institute, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Dairy FARM Program, National Grocers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc., Southeastern Meat Association, Southwest Meat Association and USPoultry.