The conference will be moderated by Mike Donohue, Vice President of Agri Stats, Inc., and will examine current economic conditions, global competitiveness, and provide a vision of the American poultry industry in the coming years. The conference is free of charge to all Expo attendees.

USPoultry chairman, Gary Cooper of Cooper Farms in Oakwood, Ohio, commented: "Perhaps in no other time in the history of poultry processing and production have the challenges been greater for our industries. Our industry currently faces high input costs, social concerns, government regulations, and international competition, while trying to keep abreast of the increasing global demand for food. The Charting the Course poultry conference was added to the 2012 IPE/IFE educational programs to help provide industry leaders with a view to the current and upcoming challenges and opportunities facing our industry."

Several prominent guests will be on hand to give presentations. Jeff Simmons, President of Elanco, will conduct a presentation on Making Safe, Affordable and Abundant Food a Global Reality. Jim Paulsen, Chief Investment Strategist for Wells Capital Management, will discuss current and future economic conditions with an Economic Outlook presentation. Adriaan Weststrate and David Nelson of Rabobank International will look at the drivers and issues for the future in their presentation, Global Competitiveness, during the poultry break-out session.

Other topics to be addressed as part of the 'Casting a Vision for the American Poultry Industry' poultry break-out session are Technology vs. Labor, Management Development and Succession Planning, Social Issues, and University Research Panel – Current, Needed, What if?

Sponsored by US Poultry & Egg Association, the 2012 edition of the world’s largest poultry industry event is set for 24 to 26 January 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Charting the Course Executive Conference is scheduled for Wednesday 25 January from 08:00hr to 12:00hr.

Along with full details of IPE 2012, the conference agenda can be viewed online [click here].