The SoAR Foundation is very pleased to release The Payoff to Investing in CGIAR Research report, coauthored by Julian M. Alston, University of California, Davis; Philip G. Pardey, University of Minnesota; and Xudong Rao, North Dakota State University today. Formerly called the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, CGIAR is the world’s largest global agricultural research network. SoAR commissioned this work to examine the benefit-cost ratio of CGIAR investments. The report found that CGIAR investments of roughly $60 billion in present value terms has generated a benefit-cost ratio of 10 to 1 over the past five decades.

With a strong presence and long-term partnerships in developing countries, CGIAR is uniquely positioned to further create and develop needed innovations. This report provides a strong economic investment case for funding partners as they consider future investments in international agriculture research and development. Additional investments in CGIAR research would continue to yield dramatic returns on investment and benefits for poor communities, particularly in Africa and South Asia where smallholder farmers and local food systems are most vulnerable. SoAR strongly encourages governments and foundations to accelerate their funding of CGIAR to strengthen smallholder agriculture and protect food systems for future generations.   Here are links to the press release, the full report, and key findings.

Signaling bold climate change action, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy today unveiled the Net Zero Initiative, an industry-wide effort that will help U.S. dairy farms of all sizes and geographies implement new technologies and adopt economically viable practices. The initiative is a critical component of U.S. dairy’s environmental stewardship goals, endorsed by dairy industry leaders and farmers, to achieve carbon neutrality, optimized water usage and improved water quality by 2050. 

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The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UW-Oshkosh) has partnered with Agra Energy Corp. to promote a new technology that converts biogas to fuel.

In an effort to reach a younger generation of consumers, mainly Generation Z (approximately 15- to 20-year-olds), the dairy checkoff is launching an initiative to meet them where they are by partnering with influential “gaming” personalities on the Minecraft game.

 This week is your last opportunity to register for the “Viewer Only” registration to see all the science presented at the 39^th Discover Conference: The Transition Period – From Physiology to Management. Registration will close after October 23. Participant Registration is sold out; however, the “Viewer Only” Registration type is still available until October 23. Click the Online Registration option and register as a “Viewer Only.” The Viewer Only registration type is meant for individuals who cannot participate in the live sessions (due to time zone issues, or other restrictions), but are interested in receiving the recorded content at the same time it is delivered to Participant registrants. Viewer Only registrants will receive access to all recorded content but will not have access to participate in the live sessions. The virtual program is available for viewing on the DC39 website.  Interpretive Summaries from the presentations will be available on S-PAC following the conference to provide some of the information shared at the meeting.

Dairy production in developing countries highlighted in November issue of the Journal of Dairy Science®

Low dairy consumption is common among low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, with the demand for milk in these countries projected to increase over the next few decades, there is an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people from the nutritional benefits of dairy products. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems hosted the “MILK Symposium: Improving Milk Production, Quality, and Safety in Developing Countries” at the 2019 American Dairy Science Association® Annual Meeting to address factors that cause low dairy consumption in LMICs and discuss strategies to address them. The Journal of Dairy Science invited speakers to submit articles on topics from the symposium to reach a wider audience. Click here for additional details. 

Removal of dairy cows from the United States may reduce essential nutrient supply with little effect on greenhouse gas emissions

Research in the Journal of Dairy Science^® examines the potential impact of various animal removal assumptions on the environment and nutritional supplies

The US dairy industry contributes roughly 1.58 percent of the total US greenhouse gas emissions; however, it also supplies the protein requirements of 169 million people, calcium requirements of 254 million people, and energy requirements of 71.2 million people. A suggested solution to increasing food production worldwide while reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been to eliminate or reduce animal production in favor of plant production. In an article appearing in the Journal of Dairy Science, scientists from Virginia Tech and the US Dairy Forage Research Center studied the effects of dairy product removal on greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient availability in US diets under various removal scenarios.

Click here for additional details. 

Speaker: Dr. David Renaud, Assistant Professor, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

Date & Time: October 28 at 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CDT

Do you have the S-PAC and Large Dairy Herd Management Bundle??

The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA®) is pleased to offer the most comprehensive information resource package for dairy professionals’ available. The Searchable Proceedings of Animal Conferences (S-PAC®) and the Large Dairy Herd Management (3rd ed., e-book) are now provided as a package. Students and professionals with purchasing an annual subscriptions to S-PAC now receive a personal copy of Large Dairy Herd Management with their paid S-PAC subscription. Learn more by clicking here. If you have additional questions please contact Ken Olson, PhD, PAS

e-mail: keolson@prodigy.netL Phone: 630/842-5334  

Start making plans to attend the 41^ST ADSA DISCOVER CONFERENCE^SM ON FOOD ANIMAL AGRICULTURE - Health Management of Calves: From Intrauterine Life to Successful Weaning. This conference will explore the many changes in dairy calf management practices, and research conducted over the last decade. Potential Conference Topics include:

•      Opportunities and Key Knowledge Gaps in Calf Management

•      Bull Calves & Dairy-Beef

•      Calf Housing and Behavior

•      Calf Immunology and Vaccines

•      Calf Nutrition Pre-weaning

•      Calf Welfare

•      Colostrum Management

•      Fetal Programming, Influence of Cow Stressors on Calf Development

•      Neonatal Disease Management

•      Transition to the Ruminant Calf: Weaning Strategies to Optimize Future Health and Productivity 

A poster session will be included to allow participants to share and discuss research findings. Details will be posted on the meeting site as they are finalized.