Meristem: Beef Science

A one-stop look at the latest science and opportunities surrounding conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) – a natural component of dairy and beef products that has shown considerable health potential – is the focus of an upcoming, leading-edge conference in Kananaskis, Alta.

"CLA Summit 2007 – Harvesting the Future," May 8-10, is hosted by the CLA Network, a collaborative team from academia, industry and government, including representatives from many areas of expertise such as research, food industry, health and communications.

Though CLA was relatively unknown a mere decade ago, pioneering studies based largely on animal models have shown this dairy and beef component has considerable potential for human health benefits related to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, bone density and obesity.

"For a food component, CLA has shown extraordinary potential to fight against chronic disease in humans," says Dr. Spencer Proctor, Director of the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases Laboratory at the University of Alberta, part of the CLA Summit organizing committee. "The CLA Summit will showcase the latest scientific findings on a number of key fronts, while providing insight and ideas from leading speakers in the field."

The CLA Network was founded in 2001. Current members include Alberta Agricultural Research Institute, Agriculture and Food Council, Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund, Alberta Agriculture and Food, University of Alberta, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Alberta Milk, Beef Information Centre, Alberta Beef Producers, the Agriculture Policy Framework and Teagasc Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority.

The Summit is designed to provide an overview of the major progress achieved under the past three years of CLA Network funding, as well as perspectives from leading researchers and industry representatives on new opportunities. It also includes poster presentations by CLA researchers and students.

"Attendance at the CLA Summit will be of most interest to key CLA Network members and direct stakeholders, as well as health professionals, nutritionists and industry leaders," says CLA Network manager Vince Ohama of Alberta Agriculture and Food. "However, information on the latest science and opportunities discussed at the session will be made available through the CLA Network's ongoing communications effort, anchored at www.CLAnetwork.com."

Keynote speakers on the agenda include Dr. Corey Scott of U.S.-based Lipid Nutrition, B.V. on CLA and obesity; Helen Bishop MacDonald, registered dietitian and author, on the challenge of changing consumer perceptions on animal fat; and Dr. Martha Belury of Ohio State University, on CLA benefits related to insulin resistance.

The agenda also includes presentations by leaders of the various CLA Network modules, which cover the areas of dairy production, beef production, animal mechanisms, human health, market research, product development and communications. The CLA Summit, held at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, begins with registration at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and wraps up at 2:15 on Thursday, May 10. Registration form and detailed agenda information is available on the Web, at www.CLAnetwork.com.

Participants in the CLA Summit may also be interested in attending the Western Obesity Summit, a complementary conference also taking place at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, May 6 to 8, immediately prior the CLA Summit meeting. The Western Obesity Summit is hosted by the Canadian Obesity Network. Contact information for registration is available at www.CLAnetwork.com.

"The Western Obesity Summit will feature invited lectures, opportunities for networking, a poster session and a special student/trainee symposium of selected oral presentations from submitted abstracts from all fields of research in understanding obesity," says Proctor. "One of the highlights will be a session dedicated to functional foods, including the impact of CLA in human health." Dr. Catherine Field, University of Alberta and Dr. Peter Jones, University of Manitoba, will speak on the prospect of using food derived lipids in the context of chronic diseases and obesity.

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Kananaskis conference to showcase health-boosting power of CLA