PEW Charitable Trust Funds Farm Animal Commission

July 5, 2006 — 

The nonprofit PEW Charitable Trusts has awarded $2.6 million to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to form the National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (NCIFAP). According to its website, the Commission is charged with conducting a two-year "comprehensive, fact-based and balanced examination of key aspects of the farm animal industry".

The Commission is comprised of 19 members. They come from the fields of veterinary medicine, animal science, economics, agriculture, public health, business, government, and animal welfare.

The Commission's goal will be to conduct an assessment of the impact of the animal agriculture industry on the public's health, the environment, farm communities, and animal health. The Commission will conduct hearings in various parts of the country and will produce specialized interim reports to help inform the Commissioners and the public. Finally, it will issue a comprehensive report of its findings, including practical recommendations that will be made available for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the general public.

The group, chaired by former Kansas Gov. John Carlin, conducted its first hearing in Des Moines, IA on June 27 - 28. Carlin said the meeting in Des Moines would help determine which issues would become the focus of the study. The commission wants to open a dialogue about having a successful livestock industry while protecting the environment and human health, he said.

According to a statement on the Commission's website, although today's livestock production practices provide consumers with affordable food, some aspects of the current animal production system have created new challenges regarding human health, rural communities, and the environment. Concerns are centered on the emergence of food-borne diseases, antibiotic resistant bacteria, air and water contamination from animal waste, significant shifts in social structure and the economy of many farming regions, as well as issues of animal health.

The mission of The Pew Charitable Trusts , as described on its website, is to "serve the public interest by providing information, advancing policy solutions and supporting civic life". The Trusts will invest $204 million in fiscal year 2006 to provide organizations and citizens with fact-based research and practical solutions for challenging issues.

Source:
NCIFAP

PEW Charitable Trusts