As a catalyst and leader in improving beef demand through high quality research and evidence, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hosted the Beef Science Summit on April 12-13, 2023, at its headquarters in Centennial, Colorado, to unite the brightest minds to help take on the beef industry’s biggest challenges. By convening 31 scientists with various backgrounds – beef safety, product quality, sustainability, and human nutrition – from 17 universities, private research entities, and USDA-ARS, NCBA cultivated a multi-disciplinary discussion about Beef Checkoff research goals and priorities, while also providing a perspective on key beef research insights. To address some of the industry’s most pertinent research needs, NCBA facilitated this one-of-a-kind event to help inspire collaboration and integration among key technical experts and to lead the beef industry in scientific discovery. Research is a foundational component of the Beef Checkoff, and the increasing need for novel research provides NCBA with the opportunity to explore new territories across disciplines and continuously drive beef demand with sound science. 

As new frontiers for beef research unfold, it becomes evident that the topics of product quality, safety, human nutrition and sustainability are independent and integrated research opportunities. The Beef Science Summit was held to explore those intersections and to encourage ideas for cross-sectional, targeted research to address industry complexities challenging beef, from gate to plate. NCBA research program directors had a chance to share their respective research roadmaps to help stimulate ideation for future scientific projects. 

Attendees expressed their visions for future multidisciplinary approaches to research in areas such as food waste and food safety advancements while balancing other factors including public health and nutrition recommendations, cultural relevance of beef, the value of beef for children and adolescents, rural sustainability, the role of ruminants in ecosystems, by-product innovations, quality standards and more. Attendees were able to interact with North Dakota beef producer, Travis Maddock, to gather deeper insights on the everyday challenges of beef production as well as the importance of market signals leading implementation of new practices or initiatives in the beef industry. Attendees also heard from Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, Dr. Jayson Lusk, who provoked deeper thinking with an overview of the industry. Dr. Phil Bass, Assistant Professor for the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences at the University of Idaho, provided an exciting and optimistic presentation, “Staying Positive in the Beef Industry,” focusing on the unique benefits the beef industry brings to the table such as the number of jobs created, the economic contributions, the boost for the transportation industry. 

The Beef Science Summit attendees were exposed to a multitude of perspectives and experiences to help generate ideas for the future of beef research, collaborate on ways to tackle the “big issues,” and lead the industry through scientific innovation, growth, and exploration. The Beef Science Summit fostered an environment for relationship building among researchers across disciplines, which will come to fruition over time through future research, science education, and further engagement with the scientific community. This event helped stimulate action in research programs across the United States, which builds upon the scientific library of high-quality evidence supporting beef’s role in society. Like much of the work from the Beef Checkoff, the entire beef industry is grounded in research and scientific evidence to build consumer trust and to optimize and promote beef. As consumers, health experts, scientists, foodservice professionals, and even news media outlets become increasingly dependent on scientific evidence to make food decisions and recommendations, immense value exists in pursuing multidisciplinary research to support beef at every stage. Facilitating sound research has been a priority of NCBA, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, for many years. By fostering scientific collaboration and innovative thinking, this commitment to research continues to show beef’s benefit to society now and into the future.