2018 Banff Pork Seminar Aherne Prize entry deadline Oct. 31, 2017

Date posted: October 10, 2017

Each year the Banff Pork Seminar (BPS) awards the F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production. It has become an annual Seminar highlight. Entry deadline for the upcoming 2018 BPS Aherne Prize is Oct. 31, 2017.

Dr. Ben Willing of the University of Alberta, committee chair for the selection committee, says the Aherne prize represents the power of innovation in the pork industry in Canada and around the world.

It recognizes individuals who have developed either original solutions to pork production challenges or creative uses for known technology. Innovations big or small, complex or simple can be entered. Contest details are on the Seminar website www.banffpork.ca.

"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," says Willing.

"All segments of the pork industry qualify," he says. "That includes areas such as feeding, breeding, ventilation, disease control and prevention, transportation, manure management, animal handling, facility or enterprise management, and pork quality and safety."

The prize is valuable, says Willing. It includes free 2018 BPS conference registration, accommodation at the world-renowned Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and travel for the Banff Pork Seminar Jan. 9 to 11, 2018 for up to two innovators. The value of that registration and travel is approximately $2,000 each. Along with that is the pride of having innovations featured at this leading global 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 2018 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.