Alltech’s International Feed Industry Symposium drew to a close on Wednesday, May 25. More than 1500 attendees from 69 countries were treated to three days of lectures, highlighting the latest technologies and possibilities for the animal feed industry.

Delegates were challenged to create new products and use innovative technology to elevate the feed and food industries. Researchers were on hand to present and discuss the 270 scientific posters that were on display during the three-day event. The posters were represented from more than 80 universities in over 30 countries.

The aquaculture session focused on dietary solutions to the fish and shrimp farmers’ biggest worry, disease. Papers were presented on the developments in identification of the molecular basis for recognition and response to viral infections in L. vannamei; probiotics for shrimp culture; immunological factors in P. monodon; the influence of Alltech’s yeast-derived mannan, Bio-Mos on the survival and immune status of rainbow trout and common carp as well as organic aquaculture; pigmentation and the rising threat to aquaculture posed by mycotoxins

Keynote speakers included Dr. David Byrne, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection (1999-2004), Alltech President, Dr. Pearse Lyons and Medal of Excellence winner, Dr. Mingan Choct. Topics discussed ranged from the science of nutrigenomics, global population growth, and the upcoming antibiotic ban in Europe.

Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech Director of Worldwide Research, led the closing session on nutrigenomics. “From antibiotic resistance to selenium supplementation, nutrigenomics will allow us to decide the specific nutrients animals need,” he commented. “ Not only will this make diagnosing and delivering nutrients to animals much more precise, but the human implications are staggering,” he explained.

Dr. Lyons brought the symposium to a close by urging delegates to be forward thinking. “We must think differently than we have in the past,” stated Lyons. “Today’s problems are not going to be solved with today’s technologies. We have to be visionaries for our industry.”

A visual recap of key Symposium moments with streaming video is available on the Alltech website. Click here

The Aquaculture papers will shortly be available on Aquafeed.com or you can obtain a copy of the proceedings of Alltech’s International Feed Industry Symposium in book and CD-ROM format, to order click here.

Alltech's 22nd International Feed Industry Symposium will be held April 23-26, 2006.