November 8, 2021 | Council for Agricultural Science and Technology—Ames, Iowa

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) will be celebrating 50 years as the trusted source for credible, balanced, science-based information in 2022. CAST held its annual meeting Oct. 26-28 in Columbus, Ohio, where the 50th anniversary publication was presented to board members. It is now available for viewing and free download on the CAST website.

This commemorative publication offers three sections covering 1) CAST historical highlights, publications, social media, and organizational structure, 2) an impact of the CAST study report, and 3) essays on the future of CAST. As David Baltensperger, past CAST president, notes, “CAST’s 50 years of accomplishments would not have been possible without the combined efforts of our members, supporters, staff and volunteer authors and reviewers. Time and time again the organization has demonstrated its ability to overcome challenges—such as the COVID pandemic this past year—and emerge stronger and better prepared to face the future.”

Kent Schescke, CAST EVP & CEO, also expresses his appreciation, “We are grateful to all of our leaders over the past 50 years who have defined, and continue to refine, the mission and vision of CAST. That legacy of leadership—with its continuous influx of new and revitalized ideas and energy around communicating the science, technology, and innovation of food and agriculture—has helped propel us to where we are today. Their efforts, insights and vision for this organization have helped us reach this important milestone.”

At the bottom of the publication’s pages, you can follow the history of CAST over the past five decades from its inception in 1972, to hosting “Food Day Dial-ogues,” to various types of publications. There’s even a picture of past CAST EVPs and board members burning the mortgage in 2007.

CAST is planning a year-long celebration of this important milestone. A number of meetings and presentations will take place to share this publication and engage stakeholders to get their ideas, input and suggestions about how CAST adapts to new challenges to science communications around food, agriculture and the environment. These events will culminate at the 2022 CAST Annual Meeting which will be held in Iowa, where CAST was formed and still currently operates.