Temple Grandin to Give Keynote Address at Farm to Table International Conference

Colorado State University Professor of Animal Science and QA magazine Advisory Board Member Temple Grandin will deliver the keynote address at the Farm to Table International Conference on Sunday, August 9, at 3:30 p.m. at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Grandin is a best-selling author, an autistic activist, and a consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior. She also invented the “hug box,” a device to calm those on the autism spectrum.

Grandin is a prominent and widely cited proponent for animal welfare. She has lectured widely about her first-hand experiences of the anxiety of feeling threatened by everything in her surroundings, and of being dismissed and feared, which motivates her work in humane livestock handling processes. She studied the behavior of cattle, how they react to ranchers, movements, objects and light. Grandin then designed adapted curved corrals, intended to reduce stress, panic and injury in animals being led to slaughter. She has designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States, consulting for firms such as Burger King, McDonald's, Swift, and others.

Grandin was named a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in 2009. She is the focus of a semi-biographical HBO film, entitled Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes as Grandin. The movie was released in 2010, was nominated for 15 Emmys, and received five awards, including Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Best Actress in a Drama. At the 2011 Golden Globes, Claire Danes won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

In 2012, when the American beef industry was struggling with public perception of its use and sale of lean finely textured beef (called “pink slime” by media), Grandin spoke out in support of the food product. She said, “It should be on the market. It should be labeled. We should not be throwing away that much beef."

The Farm to Table International Conference explores the cultivation, distribution, and consumption of food and drink sourced locally to globally. This year’s theme, “A Feast for the Senses,” spotlights the sensual aspects of food and drink at every stage of the agricultural-culinary cycle. Topics will include best practices in urban farming, bringing products to market, sourcing locally, enhancing sustainability, and the latest trends and developments in the industry, including food science, security, and safety.

The program will feature panels on best practices in Crop to Cup (Brewing, Distilling, Vinting, plus non-alcoholic beverages); Farming and Production; Food and Beverage Journalism and Media; Farm to School; and Food Innovation (Science, Technology, Trends, etc.).

 The three-day program also will feature keynote speakers of national and international standing, chef demos, and “Knowledge Center” presentations, as well as opportunities for networking. The event will take place in tandem with the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s 62nd Annual Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO, an event featuring related exhibits and attracting food and beverage professionals from across the country.

For information and registration on the conference, visit http://f2t-int.com. For information on exhibiting, contact Trade Show Director Katie Calabrese, 504-582-3072 or info@f2t-int.com.