Community Involvement Crucial for Animal Welfare Success, Says Expert

Oct 14, 2024

Dr. Jude Kong, the Canadian Research Chair in Community-Oriented Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease at the University of Toronto, highlights the importance of engaging local communities in animal health and welfare strategies. Speaking at Animal Health Canada’s 2024 Forum, which focused on “Coordination, Collaboration, Communication,” Dr. Kong emphasized that building community involvement is essential for gaining support for welfare initiatives.

“Too often, communities are overlooked,” Dr. Kong explained. “For real progress, it’s essential to work collaboratively with farmers, researchers, organizations, and government agencies. By co-creating solutions with these communities, we ensure they have ownership and a stake in the outcomes.”

Dr. Kong underscored the importance of proactive, real-time scientific solutions that can alert policymakers when issues arise. However, without community participation, he warns, these solutions may struggle to gain acceptance.

“We can’t just impose solutions on communities,” said Dr. Kong. “When they help create these strategies, they become invested in their success.”

Source : Swine Web

Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.