'New Process, New Products, New Policy' is the theme for an aggressive programme for the 39th conference in the series, and it brings in leading speakers from around the world to target major issues head-on. Dates for the Seminar are 19 to 22 January 2010 at the Banff Centre.

As in past years three morning plenary sessions anchor the program. Six speakers tackle three major areas of focus: What the next pandemic may bring; New business models and The boom after the bust.

Those morning sessions are complemented by 12 rotating break-out sessions during the remainder of Wednesday and Thursday. These sessions feature the meat and potatoes topics on the program. They include production issues such as reducing feed costs, production for profitability, capturing genetic potential, livestock health surveillance systems and best practices in financial and risk management. Topics also address trade impediments and what is the best strategy for a Canadian meat export value chain, along with challenging pork marketing models, producing antibiotic-free pork, what's next for H1N1 influenza, as well as planning for animal welfare issues.

Bryan Perkins, pork producer and chair of the 2010 Seminar, said: "This Seminar has always been one of the best places to link with the top minds in the pork industry. Industry has always made this an important place to gather and focus on the critical issues of the day. Even with the challenges our industry has faced, we expect a good turnout this year as we put the pieces in place for our collective future."

Registration for the 2010 Seminar can be completed online by visiting the Banff Pork Seminar web site [click here], e-mail ([email protected] or call (780) 492-3651. Participants can arrange accommodation at the Banff Centre through the Seminar web site, or by calling the Banff Centre toll-free at 1-800-884-7574.

The registration fee from 1 January is C$350. (C$300 before that date) You can save on registration cost by bringing a group. When five people are registered as a group, they receive a sixth registration free of charge. Walk-in registrations are allowed. Registration includes a copy of the Seminar proceedings, two evening receptions, coffee breaks and three luncheons. It does not include accommodation.