After a fantastic four course dinner of stuffed chicken, attendees of the 2013 Chicken Media Summit were honored to hear a keynote address about the importance of animal sourced foods.

The National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association brought in Bill Weldon, Vice President of Global Outreach & Development and Western Europe Commercial Business for Elanco Animal Health and Susan Finn, President and CEO of the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition. Together they shared how animal source foods are the key to enriching people’s lives and feeding the world for the next 50 years.

The three key elements of this new research focuses on broadening the understanding, empowering collaboration and advancing innovation. Statistics show that by 2050 we are expected to have about 9 billion mouths to feed. That means 70% more food will be needed and 70% of this will need to come from efficiency-improving technology.

“Food security has far-reaching ramifications for health productivity and quality of life at the individual, community and global levels. Historically, as societies emerge from poverty, they begin to consume animal source foods. Meat, milk and eggs provide a nutrient-rich diet, which is critical for brain and muscle development, and disease prevention, along with weight management. All of these combine to improve health and productivity, ultimately enriching people’s lives.”

Listen to my interview will Bill here: Bill Weldon

Check out photos from the event here: 2013 Chicken Media Summit Photo Album