EPIC 2020, which was scheduled to run on 1-2 November has been cancelled.
In an email sent to sponsors and delegates Howard Birley, EPIC secretary, said the EPIC organising committee had reluctantly concluded that there was little appetite from the industry for attending a conference this year even though coronavirus restrictions appear to be easing.
“A lot of the companies in the industry are under severe pressure and the climate is just not conducive to them even considering attending or sponsoring a conference at the moment,” he wrote.
“We hope that you will understand that we consider it prudent to make this decision as we can see no way to facilitate the conference and particularly the dinners and networking whilst adhering to social distancing rules. Even if restrictions are fully lifted we sense little appetite from within the industry for a get together this year.”
Birley said the conference committee would discuss arrangements for next year’s conference in the coming weeks, including the possibility of moving it from November to the spring. Feedback from the poultry industry would be welcome, he added.