Farm-Scape, Episode 2027

International issues facing the global pork industry will be among the topics discussed over the next three days as the annual Banff Pork Seminar moves into full swing.

The Banff Pork Seminar got underway yesterday evening with an opening reception and information sessions move into full swing today.

This year's theme is internal and external threats to the pork industry focusing on issues of both national and international significance.

Organizing Committee Chair Jack Moerman says, with delegates coming in from around the world, the seminar has become a truly international event.

"This year marks the 35th year of continuous seminars. It seems to have been growing year upon year and we're kind of plateauing now at about 750 to 800 delegates. So far, and we always have some late comers, we have registered 750 this year.

About 500 of those delegates are from Western Canada, about 150 from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, 70 or so from the United States and then we have I think it's over a dozen, about 15 delegates from other countries internationally, Denmark, Germany, Brazil, China, the Netherlands and England.

It's fairly diverse representation from all across the globe actually and it's been that way for quite a number of years.

Obviously the majority of people are from closer proximity but we always have people from the US and from other countries."

Moerman says, while the seminar does explore backyard issues, it also examines North American and international issues.

He says we're really in a global market and always have things that cause constraints so we have to look outside of our borders to see where this industry is going.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.