The first livestock marketing, scientific, and academic exhibition of its kind is convened today by the Philippine Veterinary Drug Association (PVDA) and the Philippine Swine Industry Research and Development Foundation, Inc., (PSIRDFI) with the theme "Food Safety and Quality through Better Animal Health, Genetics and Nutrition." The Congress is a biennial joint project of the two organizations and is scheduled for the next three days at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Dubbed Farmers' Congress, the event will bring under one roof the latest advances in swine and poultry management, genetics development, and nutrition technologies and equipment. Highlight of the gathering is the Farmers Pavilion exhibit that will showcase the latest technological advances in the swine and poultry industry in the country and the region.

The Congress will also have several education sessions where Filipino and foreign experts will present technical papers and seminars on feeds, veterinary medication, genetics, and diseases. Leading practitioners from Europe will discuss trends in piglet nutrition, artificial insemination, and farm system technologies. The attending farm owners and managers, feed millers and suppliers, the media, academics, and student researchers will be provided networking opportunities. The Congress will culminate in a live boar auction sale to be held in cooperation with the International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH).

We congratulate the organizers and participants in the Farmers' Congress led by the Philippine Veterinary Drug Association President Ronald Vergel de Dios and Philippine Swine Industry Research and Development Foundation Inc. President Jimmy Chua on the First International Animal Health, Genetics and Nutrition Congress and wish them success in all their endeavors.