Calling on nominations for the 2017 Banff Pork Seminar Aherne Prize

Date posted: October 20, 2016

One of the most popular events at the annual Banff Pork Seminar is the awarding of the F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production.

"The prize recognizes those individuals who have developed either original solutions to pork production challenges or creative uses for known technology," says Aherne Innovator committee chair Ben Willing of the University of Alberta.

Any innovation big or small can be entered. Not all innovations are complex - simple ideas can be very effective solutions. Entry deadline is Oct. 31, 2016. Contest details are on the Seminar website www.banffpork.ca.

"The innovation can apply to any segment of the pork industry including feeding; breeding; ventilation; disease control and prevention; transportation; manure management; animal handling; facility or enterprise management; and pork quality and safety.

The contest is open to owners, production managers, herdspeople or consultants in the North American pork industry, or anyone who has developed an innovation relevant to the North American pork production industry.

The prize is significant: Free conference registration, accommodation at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and travel for the Banff Pork Seminar Jan. 10 to 12, 2017 for up to two innovators. The prizes include registration and travel valued at $2,000 each, along with the outstanding opportunity to have their innovations highlighted at this leading pork industry conference.

The award is named after the late Dr. Frank Aherne, a professor of swine nutrition and production at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and a major force for science-based progress in the western Canadian pork industry.

Follow Banff Pork Seminar on Twitter @banffpork. Connect on Facebook /BanffPork. Get complete coverage in a Special Meeting Report of the 2017 Banff Pork Seminar, presented by communications partner Meristem. Find the special report link on the Seminar site home page or directly on the www.meristem.com.