2024 TRACKS & SESSIONS
Oral Presentations: Formal, individual presentations on various conservation topics will be scheduled in general sessions depending on the specific “Track” in which it was submitted and the thematic content. The abstract submission form requires the selection of a preferred presentation format (oral) and whether you are submitting your abstract as an individual or part of an organized panel. The Session Chair may suggest that you change your proposed format depending on the novelty, relationship to the theme, available time in the program, and whether or not the content has been previously presented.
All presenters must be registered conference participants.
Please, do not submit the same abstract in multiple formats.
Track:
Post-harvest Processing, Material Manufacturing, Utilization for Livestock and Industrial Uses
Sessions & Session Descriptions:
Hemp as Animal Feed: Investigating Health Impacts and Secondary Metabolite Fate in Livestock
Industrial hemp by-products have the potential to be an ideal feed material for livestock: they are highly nutritious and sustainably produced, and cultivation is easily scaled up across diverse geographies and climates. Further, this crop may decrease the pressure felt by livestock managers from a volatile feed market to provide an alternative, regionally grown option for animal nutrition. Limitations to hemp’s use are centered around safety concerns, namely, cannabinoids and transference/exposure to humans through animal products, as expressed by federal agencies and consumer groups. This session will explore current studies conducted across a wide range of animal species exposed to dietary hemp, focusing on health/performance impacts and metabolite residues in biometrics and/or consumer products to inform decisions around consumer safety.
Is it Safe? The Need for Risk Assessment When Considering Hemp Products in Food and Feed Consumed by Animals That Produce By-products for Human Consumption
Hemp has been used as food and feed worldwide for millennia; in many countries, hemp oilseeds are still considered a primary crop for food production. However, in 1937, the marijuana tax act was passed, and the role of hemp as an agricultural crop was removed from the agricultural landscape in the US and many other countries. The need for sustainable, diverse, and multi-purpose row crops and consumer demand for plant-based proteins and naturally fed livestock are again driving interest in hemp as a food and feed crop in the US. With concerns over secondary metabolite exposure and the desire for THC-free products, there is a great need for risk assessments that address these concerns in hemp-fed animal products like meat, milk, and eggs. Understanding cannabinoid transference is part of this assessment, as well as consumption patterns and the age and lifestyle of the consumer. This session will include presenters from the private sector producing hemp foods and hemp-fed products and researchers investigating concerns over the safety of consuming these products through risk-based analyses.
Postharvest Processing to Product Development
The emerging era of cannabis and cannabinoid research requires optimal post-harvesting processes and product development that maintain consistency, coupled with complete secondary metabolite profiling for different cannabis strains. This session will focus on the post-harvest processing of cannabis, including drying, extraction, curing, and analytical studies. It seeks to provide cannabis producers with knowledge on novel post-harvest systems and analytical procedures for improved yield and quality.