Worldwide representatives of the egg industry will get together in Canada next month for a four-day conference organised by the International Egg Commission.
IEC representatives met in London in March, but the September event is traditionally the organisation’s main event of the year. The IEC has lined up speakers on a number of issues facing the industry. One burning issue for the egg industry in the UK and other EU member countries – as well as the United States - is the ban on conventional cages. At the London conference Prof Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst, a statistical analyst with the IEC, warned that the ban on conventional cages would lead to a shortage of eggs in Europe. His report in March showed that egg production in Europe fell from 10.2 million tonnes in 1992 to 9.9 million tonnes in 2007. He believes figures will get worse as a result of the EU’s decision to ban conventional cages.
Prof Windhorst will again report to members of the IEC during the conference in Canada. There will also be a seminar on enriched colonies – the system intended to replace conventional cages following the ban.
Production issues aside, those attending the conference in Vancouver will hear from Dr Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, who will address the question of whether or not eggs can help people lose weight. Dr Dhurandhar has conducted many studies into the cause and treatment of obesity, including anti-obesity drug trials, meal replacement strategies and using eggs as a supplement to weight loss efforts.
At the IEC conference, Dr Dhurandhar will discuss the power of protein, including how eggs can help combat obesity. Dr. Dhurandhar is an associate professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also a fellow of the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Society, and the American College of Nutrition.
The Canada conference will run from September 13 to 17 at the Vancouver Pan Pacific Hotel. IEC Chairman, Frank Pace, said, "The conference provides the opportunity for senior people throughout the egg industry to get together to discuss the global issues affecting our businesses. People come from Australia, USA, Asia and Europe; this year we are expecting about 500 attendees in Canada.
"We have some excellent speakers scheduled to attend September’s conference in Vancouver, including international marketing expert, Dr Jan-Benedict Steenkamp, who will explain how we can apply his marketing expertise to our egg industry. We have also arranged some fabulous social activities including a trip to the amazing Grouse Mountain."
The IEC says the conferences bring together a vast geographical network of people, all with one common objective - to succeed in the same industry. It says the combination of social and business activities provides delegates with an ideal opportunity to forge valuable business contacts in a relaxed, social environment, while experiencing some of Vancouver’s most spectacular sites.
