J APPL POULT RES 2007. 16:86-90
© 2007 Poultry Science Association
National Poultry Extension Workshop |
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
J. M. Bonner1
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames, IA 50014
Correspondence: 1 Corresponding author: jbonner{at}cast-science.org
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SUMMARY
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The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology has made considerable progress in the past year in all of its focus areas that affect visibility and financial well-being as we strive to achieve our mission. "Building Our Brand" is at the core of every activity, including our product (publications), our member involvement (stakeholder contacts and reports), and our distribution and sales (expanding our reach and affecting the key audiences listed in our mission statement). "Ahead of the Need" information is what the Poultry Science Association can provide us. We are increasing the number of commentary papers that we will produce annually, and we have improved our reach to state and federal congressional contacts and media personnel. We appreciate the support and suggestions of the Poultry Science Association and look forward to continued success in communicating science to society.
Key Words: agricultural science • poultry science • food safety • agricultural technology • livestock production
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INTRODUCTION
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The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) was established in 1972 as a nonprofit organization to provide a scientific voice for agriculture. The CAST board of directors is responsible for the policies and procedures followed in developing, processing, and disseminating the documents produced. These publications and their distribution are fundamental activities that accomplish our mission to assemble, interpret, and communicate credible, science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology achieves its mission through the publication of task force reports, issue papers, commentaries, and special publications, as well as through workshops, symposia, and e-mail communications [1]. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology addresses issues of animal science, food science and agricultural technology, plant and soil science, and plant protection science with inputs from experts including economists, social scientists, toxicologists, plant pathologists, entomologists, weed scientists, nematologists, and legal experts. The wide distribution of CAST publications to non-scientists enhances the education and understanding of the general public. Recent publications include 2 CAST commentaries: "Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns" and "Avian Influenza: Trade Issues." More information about CAST projects and publications is available on the Web site at www.cast-science.org.
Today, CAST is composed of 38 scientific and technical societies and many individual, student, company, nonprofit, and associate society members. The 38 CAST societies represent more than 173,000 agricultural, environmental, and natural resource scientists.
The executive committee oversees the CAST staff and the board of directors. The CAST president, president-elect, past president, treasurer, executive vice president, and 1 representative from each of CAST’s 4 work groups make up the CAST executive committee.
The board of directors oversees CAST activities such as approving the budget, and screening and approving proposals for new publications and projects. The board of directors is composed of 1 representative from each member society, 1 representative for individual members, 3 ex officio representatives (nonvoting), 1 liaison (nonvoting), and 9 representatives to our executive committee.
Each member society representative is appointed to the board of directors by his or her society, and the individual member representative is elected to the position by the individual members. Each representative serves a 3-yr term.
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SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
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Society membership is reserved for nonprofit scientific societies (generally US national societies that may include some members in other countries) whose principal purpose is advancing science, education, and the scientific and professional interests of their members.
Society Membership Responsibilities
Member societies, including the Poultry Science Association, designate 1 representative to serve a 3-yr term on the CAST board of directors. The representative is expected to:
- attend the 2 meetings of the board each year,
- participate throughout the year as a member of 1 work group and 1 standing committee, and
- serve as a liaison between CAST and the society.
Society Membership Benefits
The CAST member societies receive the following benefits of membership:
- representation on the CAST board of directors;
- free access to all CAST publications and informative communications by mail, e-mail, and through the CAST Web site at http://www.cast-science.org;
- direct effect on the communication of agricultural science and how it is relayed to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public;
- input about topics chosen for CAST publications and activities;
- presence in public policy decision making, through publications, briefings, roundtables, and other events;
- scientific representation in the public policy arena on food, agricultural, and environmental issues;
- opportunities to participate in or partner with CAST in events such as workshops, conferences, or roundtables;
- networking and awareness of all sectors of science;
- association with preeminent science source for food, agricultural, and environmental issues; and
- support of the future of agriculture and its best interest.
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PUBLICATION EFFECTS
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The following are examples of ways in which recent CAST publications have had wide-ranging effects after their release.
"Adventitious Presence: Inadvertent Commingling and Coexistence among Farming Methods"
This CAST commentary was released July 19, 2005, and later translated into a Spanish version that was released February 28, 2006, and widely distributed. Follow-on activities included a speaking engagement for Chet Boruff and Drew Kershen (task force author) at the American Bar Association-CAST Biotechnology Roundtable in June 2006.
"Metabolic Modifiers for Use in Animal Production"
This issue paper was released July 27, 2005, during a rollout and presentation at the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association.
"Crop Biotechnology and the Future of Food: A Scientific Assessment"
This CAST commentary was released October 31, 2005, and drew widespread interest. Follow-on speaking engagements ensued for Bruce Chassy (task force chair) at the University of California-Davis and Tony Shelton at the Pacific Rim Conference on Biotechnology, held in October and November 2005. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology made the commentary available for quantity reprints and received orders for over 5,000 copies. The commentary was translated into Spanish in December 2005, and an international organization linked that version to its Web site. Several hundred reprints were distributed to Spanish-speaking countries.
"Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns and Avian Influenza: Trade Issues"
These companion commentaries were released January 19, 2006, and April 5, 2006, respectively. There was national distribution of the CAST news release sent to media (including ABC national headquarters, American Farm, Atlanta Journal, Des Moines Register, Feedstuffs, National Public Radio, and WOI TV Des Moines, IA), legislators, legislative assistants, CAST members, poultry organizations, industry, additional government departments, national restaurants specializing in poultry, national commercial poultry and food organizations, grocers and food manufacturers, and web links [2].
How Does CAST "Reach" Its Audiences?
News Releases
The release of each new CAST publication is announced by a news release sent out by CAST staff on the day the publication is rolled out. These news releases are sent via e-mail to members of the media, legislators, legislative assistants, current CAST members, and numerous agencies and organizations identified through a Web search for the specific publication topic. This group of recipients makes up more than 2,000 individuals. Our effect reports show further distribution of our publications via organizational newsletters, Web links, speaking engagements, and international notifications. This additional effect of CAST publications broadens the reach to hundreds of thousands of people.
Friday Notes E-Newsletter
Each Friday, individual CAST members receive Friday Notes, an electronic newsletter created to pinpoint and distribute the latest agricultural science and technology news. News items are grouped according to CAST’s 4 work groups–Animal Sciences, Food Sciences and Agricultural Technology, Plant and Soil Sciences, and Plant Protection Sciences–as well as items of general interest. Other Friday Notes features include:
- weekly updates from CAST’s executive officers, board members, work group chairs, and staff;
- spotlights featuring CAST’s supporting member organizations, including scientific societies, ex officio and nonprofit organizations, and company members;
- brief reviews of CAST publications–reports, issue papers, special publications, and commentaries; and
- weekly summaries of activities in Washington, DC, provided by our consultants "on the hill," Meyers and Associates.
The CAST Web Site
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology publications released since 1988 are available on the CAST Web site for online viewing or ordering of printed copies. Online access is free to all CAST members. All visitors to the CAST Web site can access a list of forthcoming publications, get details on membership, view past Annual Reports, and read about CAST’s leadership and educational programs.
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BLITZ CAMPAIGN–AVIAN INFLUENZA
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In early May 2006, a made-for-TV movie was shown that depicted a pandemic outbreak of avian influenza ("bird flu") in the United States. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology responded proactively, ahead of the broadcast date, with a blitz campaign that is estimated to have reached more than 100,000 people. An e-mail message [3] was used to communicate information about the 2 recent CAST commentaries on the topic of avian influenza, both available free of charge on the CAST Web site, as well as 1 excellent government information Web site.
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CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
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- The mission of CAST is to assemble, interpret, and communicate credible, science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public.
- The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology actualizes its mission through publication of task force reports, issue papers, special publications, and CAST commentaries, as well as through meetings. An example of CAST’s success in this area is reflected in CAST’s recent publications on the potential effects of human pandemic and trade issue concerns of a large-scale outbreak of avian influenza.
- Because CAST is a not-for-profit organization, all CAST activities are supported by the generosity of CAST member societies, companies, and individuals. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology and the Poultry Science Association have been partners for nearly 35 yr. The PSA has provided CAST with ideas, feedback, and critical financial support, and CAST has worked to promote the PSA and keep the society informed of the latest research and activities in the agricultural sector. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology values this relationship highly and hopes that the alliance will continue as a benefit to both organizations into the future.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES
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- Forthcoming CAST Activities and Publications:
Symposium on "Nondietary Exposure to Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides" being planned. This CAST-convened symposium, cosponsored by government and industry task forces, will focus on assessing current measurement techniques of determining exposure, evaluating models to reduce risks, and recommending improvements. A proceedings document, "Nondietary Exposure to Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides," will follow.
"Acrylamide in Food" (issue paper). The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the National Center for Food Safety and Technology invited leading scientists to 2 workshops in 2002 and 2004 to identify data gaps in current knowledge of the human health effects of consuming acrylamide and to develop a coordinated research agenda for assessing risk. The paper will be arranged around the 5 working groups at the workshops.
"Animal Productivity and Genetic Diversity: Transgenic and Cloned Animals" (issue paper). This issue paper, 1 of a 9-part series titled "Animal Agriculture’s Future through Biotechnology," will provide a review of the complexities surrounding the issue of transgenic and cloned animals, focusing especially on the components of productivity and genetic diversity.
"Biotechnological Approaches to Manure Nutrient Management" (issue paper). Part of a 9-part series titled "Animal Agriculture’s Future through Biotechnology," this paper will assess the environmental effects that biotechnology-derived crops can have on animal manure nutrient management.
"Fate and Transport of Zoonotic Bacterial, Viral, and Protozoan Pathogens during Swine Manure Storage, Treatment, and Land Application" (special publication). In recent years, changes in the swine-production industry have coincided with increased health concerns from both citizens and farm workers. Leaking waste lagoons and airborne contaminants can pollute surface and ground water, spreading bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and parasitics. Antimicrobial, hormonal, nitrate, and antibiotic residues can cause serious health problems as well. This special publication, commissioned by the National Pork Board, reviews the issues at stake, outlines methods for reducing the threat of such hazards, and recommends future research and development.
Presentations, Roundtables, Meetings, and Briefings
Water Quality Workshop. A workshop focused on water management as a key component of healthy grasses was held January 23 to 25, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The follow-on proceedings, "Water Quality and Quantity Issues for Turfgrasses in Urban Landscapes," will contain the text of all presentations.
National Ag Day. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology was proud to help sponsor the National 2006 Ag Day Essay Contest, "Growing Our Energy: Alternative Fuels from Agriculture." The 2006 national winner, Ashley Julka, a 10th grader at Laconia High School in Rosendale, Wisconsin, received a $1,000 prize and was recognized in Washington, DC.
CAST Board News
The CAST board of directors and staff traveled to Washington, DC, April 19 to 21, 2006, for the spring board meeting. The CAST board members were addressed by secretary of agriculture Mike Johanns, and CAST was thanked for its role in "getting the word out" to help the public understand what agriculture accomplishes for them. Secretary Johanns further stated that the USDA supports science-based policy that anticipates future challenges. - Avian Influenza Commentaries: Distribution and Impacts Summary. Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns and Avian Influenza: Trade Issues. Summary of distribution of information, May 2006. The following is a list of listservs and number of recipients in parentheses: board and executive committee (46); media (518), news information (30), society presidents and executives (56), Friday Notes (1,725), US House legislative assistants (425), US Senate legislative assistants (64), US Senate (52), state House ag committee chairs (50), state Senate ag committee chairs (50).
Other contacts made: batched e-mails to poultry organizations (40), e-mails to individuals—industry (6), e-mails to individuals—government (6); Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Farm Credit Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; national restaurant chains, specializing in poultry (23), national commercial poultry and food organizations or societies (31), grocers and national food manufacturers (9), media (individual contacts in addition to Media listserv of 518; 7).
Effects
Forwarded E-mails. The Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN) forwarded e-mails to 700 recipients. The CAST board members, individual members, or stakeholders forwarded the announcement from John Bonner to colleagues at the following organizations: poultry organizations, Agriliance, Cenex Harvest States, Land O’Lakes, American Bar Association, DuPont, General Mills, ConAgra, and the USDA.
Web Site Citations
Association of Avian Veterinarians. Web site. May 5, 2006. Link to CAST announcement under the heading "Updated Information on Avian Influenza."
Farm Futures online newsletter. May 5, 2006. Cited CAST announcement under the heading "Get the Facts on AI Concerns."
RiskWorld online newsletter. May 5, 2006. A news brief in Risk-World’s homepage under the heading "CAST Counters Flu Pandemic Sensationalism with Facts."
WATT Poultry Global E-news online newsletter. May 4, 2006. Cited CAST announcement under the heading "Communication on Avian Influenza Information Available at CAST."
Media Contacts
Atlanta Journal newspaper. May 3, 2006. Andy Miller, a reporter for the Atlanta Journal, requested a copy of the "AI/Trade Issues" commentary.
WOI Television, Des Moines, Iowa (ABC local affiliate). May 2, 2006. Randy Shelton, station manager, talked with CAST executive vice president John Bonner.
WOI Television, Des Moines, Iowa. May 9, 2006. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology president Don Beitz participated in an interview with Ashley Brauer regarding avian influenza and accurate information.
Additional Follow-Ups
Fareway Grocery Stores. May 3, 2006. Fred Greiner, executive vice president of Fareway Stores Inc., will distribute the reports to all of the chain’s stores. - A Message from John Bonner, executive vice president of CAST:
As attention around the world focuses on the potential for an avian influenza pandemic, there is concern that sensationalism may overrule facts, ironically creating the very chaos it predicts. It is critical in this situation that individuals and organizations be prepared to act rather than react. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, known for its timely, pertinent communications of science and agriculture issues, is ready to assist. And we would like your help.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology recently published 2 papers on the effects of an avian influenza pandemic. These concise commentaries, written for a general audience, have received wide recognition and are available to view and download without charge by visiting the CAST Web site (www.cast-science.org).
"Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns." This CAST commentary addresses the current situation, evaluates the structure and functions of avian influenza viruses, outlines pandemic risk assessment, and provides references and selected Web sites for more detailed information.
"Avian Influenza: Trade Issues." Although much of the concern about a pandemic outbreak of high-pathogenic avian influenza centers on human health, the potential effects on the international poultry and feed grains trade are significant. This paper brings these trade concerns into sharper focus.
"Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals and Families." This excellent overview, which provides common sense actions that citizens can take to prepare for a potential pandemic, can be accessed at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/guide.pdf.
Will you help us get the word out about these important publications? As mentioned above, they are available without charge to anyone. Please share this information with your colleagues, and consider adding a direct link (www.cast-science.org) on your organization’s Web site.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public. The official CAST Web site can be accessed at www.cast-science.org. For further information, contact me at CAST: John M. Bonner, CAST executive vice president (515-292-2125, ext. 25; jbonner{at}cast-science.org).
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SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
