Healthy Animals, Resilient Farms: A Transatlantic Dialogue on Animal Health and Welfare

The Aspen Institute Germany, together with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is delighted to invite you to the virtual conference "Healthy Animals, Resilient Farms: A Transatlantic Dialogue on Animal Health and Welfare" on September 30, 2026 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CEST/Berlin / 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST via Zoom. 

How can Germany and the United States work together to shape the future of animal health and welfare in the swine and poultry industries? At a time of changing consumer expectations, growing biosecurity challenges, and increasing pressure on producers, the Transatlantic Dialogue on Animal Health and Welfare will bring together farmers, veterinarians, scientists, industry representatives, and policy makers from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss animal health and welfare in swine and poultry production. Besides exploring policies, practical approaches and opportunities for transatlantic cooperation, the event will highlight recommendations developed by the fourth U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture cohort.

Confirmed speakers include Senator Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator for North Carolina, Ted McKinney, Chief Executive Officer of National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and former USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Dr. Franziska Kersten, Member of German Parliament and Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity and Dr. Katharina Kluge, Chief Veterinary Officer of Germany at the Ministry on Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity.

The event will be held in English. If you have any questions, please contact Ferdinand Eimler at eimler@aspeninstitute.de. We look forward to having you in the room for this important conversation!