Agricultural science communication is crucial to deliver evidence-based information about the latest production technology to producers within the industry. However, it is equally important to communicate evidence-based, university-backed knowledge to consumers about agricultural production. As agricultural and environmental science communication researchers, we have the privilege of doing both through a multi-year effort sponsored by the National Pork Board.
The Real Pork Trust Consortium is a strategic collaboration between five research universities in which we strive to achieve three goals:
- Research designed to answer consumers’ questions about pork and its production
- Communicate pork research findings in a relatable, relevant way consumers can easily understand and use when making food purchasing decisions
- Train people from various backgrounds to share evidence-based information about the pork industry with those around them
Along with colleagues from Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the University of Minnesota, the Lamm Lab at the University of Georgia is striving to conduct science communication research that will resonate with the public in making decisions about pork consumption. The interdisciplinary, multi-institutional team combines the expertise of researchers in communication, education, sociology, economics, animal welfare, health, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and pork production.
Funded by the National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff, the primary objective of the Real Pork Trust Consortium is to work with key players across the pork supply chain to increase the resilience and adaptability of the U.S. pork industry while considering how consumers and society view pork production and providing improved communication and education.