MARYVILLE, Mo. – Faculty and students representing Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Agricultural Sciences are hosting a forum to educate the public about current issues facing the agricultural industry as well as future impacts.

The forum will be Thursday, March 19, at the American Legion, 1104 E. Fifth St., in Maryville. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m., and a meal will be served at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

With a population expected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, the world will have to turn to science and technology to meet food consumption needs, noted Dr. Arley Larson, associate professor of agricultural sciences at Northwest, and the solution will require a well-informed populace concerning the agricultural industry.

“The industry in this day and age is often misunderstood and maligned regardless of a reputation of producing abundant high quality food and fiber products for the consuming public,” Larson said. “There seems be considerable concern among consumers about modern production methods, often intensified by misinformation concerning food nutrition and safety.”

Larson noted the agricultural science department has assembled a capable and well-informed group of leaders in the agricultural industry to identify the nature of challenges facing the industry and possible solutions. The panel will include representatives of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Center for Food Integrity, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Beef Industry Council, Missouri Dairy Association and the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

The forum agenda is provided below. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Northwest Department of Agricultural Sciences at 660.562.1155.

1:30 p.m. Registration

2 p.m. Welcome and Introductions (Tom Brand, National Association of Farm Broadcasters)

2:15 p.m. Why are Consumers Skeptical? (Keynote Speaker J.J. Jones, Center for Food Integrity)

3:30 p.m. Industry Panel

· Blake Hurst, Missouri Farm Bureau

· Samantha Davis, Missouri Corn Growers Association

· Don Nikodim, Missouri Pork Association

· Mark Russell, Missouri Beef Industry Council

· Sean Cornelius, chair of the Missouri Farm Bureau Dairy Advisory Committee

4:30 p.m. Missouri Agricultural Initiatives (Charlie Hopper, Missouri Department of Agriculture)

5 p.m. Bridging the Divide between Consumers and Science (J.J. Jones – Center for Food Integrity)

6 p.m. Meal