Plant Futures' Journey at the AVA Summit 2024
Held from May 16-19, 2024, in Washington DC, this year's AVA Summit brought together over 750 participants from 49 countries, representing more than 270 organizations.
Plant Futures had the honor of attending this event, where we had the opportunity to connect with experts, update our knowledge, and explore new collaboration opportunities to advance our mission of positive impact on the planet.
Plant Futures at the AVA Summit:
A Transformative Gathering in Washington DC
The AVA Summit is one of the most important international events for leaders and advocates of the plant-based movement and animal rights. Founded to bring together activists and organizations dedicated to these causes, the AVA Summit has grown significantly since its inception.
History of the AVA Summit
The Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit was conceived in 2021 after surveying over 60 key stakeholders, movement leaders, and major sponsors. There was overwhelming consensus: it was time to create a modern, professional, diverse, and impact-oriented conference for farm animal, wildlife, and veganism advocates. This initiative aimed to unite the movement, reduce internal disputes, and strengthen connections between organizations, which is crucial for creating systemic change.
Sebastian Joy, co-founder and president of ProVeg International, initiated what became the AVA Summit in close collaboration with Dawn Moncrief, founder and president of A Well-Fed World, and Meghan O'Brien Lowery, director and partner of the Greenbaum Foundation. Their guidance and support were crucial for the launch of AVA. Michael Webermann, then executive director of ProVeg International in the USA, and Sebastian created, branded, and co-founded the AVA Summit. Thanks to their dedication and reputation, the Summit immediately became a reference point for advocates working or aspiring to work professionally in our movement.
The first AVA Summit in 2022 in the USA met all its primary objectives, being the largest event of the movement since before the pandemic and more international than any similar previous event. In 2023, the event grew even larger and more diverse, with the participation of 215 organizations and over 750 attendees from 47 different countries. That same year, AVA cooperated with Asia for Animals to create the first in-person conference for farm animal advocates in Southeast Asia: Asia Farm Animal Day. Due to its immediate success, in 2024 AVA became an independent organization under the name Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) International.
LATAM presence at AVA Summit 2024
Highlights from LATAM Presentations:
Dulce Ramirez: Fight, Struggle, and Wins in Latin America
Dulce Ramirez from Igualdad Animal gave an in-depth talk about the last five years of fighting for animal defense in Latin America. She addressed the challenges of professionalization and resources, as well as the importance of valuing strategies and maintaining strong alliances in various social, cultural, and economic contexts.
Emmanuel Márquez: Green South - The Latin American Vegan Movement
Emmanuel Márquez from ProVeg International presented a comprehensive view of the vegan movement in Latin America, exploring the challenges and opportunities to advance the fight for animal rights.
Other Notable Titles:
Aquatic Animal Advocacy: An exploration of efforts to defend aquatic animals and the current context of these species.
Secrets of Persuasion - Lessons from Hollywood, DC, and Global Movements: A session on persuasion techniques used in various industries and global movements, applied to animal advocacy.
Crustacean & Insect Advocacy: A discussion on the advocacy for crustaceans and insects, and how these species are often overlooked in animal welfare efforts.
What Not to Do as a Leader of an Organization: Speakers shared their most notable mistakes leading animal rights organizations, offering counterintuitive lessons and practical advice useful for both newcomers and veterans in the fight for animal liberation.
Inspiration and Motivation
The sessions we attended at the AVA Summit 2024 greatly motivated us to continue working with dedication to achieve a significant impact on animal protection and welfare, as well as the promotion of a sustainable and compassionate lifestyle. The diversity of topics covered and the quality of the speakers provided us with a renewed perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the plant-based and animal rights movement.
Discussions on persuasion strategies and advocacy for aquatic and crustacean animals provided us with innovative tools and opened our eyes to often neglected areas. The session "What Not to Do as a Leader of an Organization" offered valuable lessons from veteran leaders, helping us avoid common mistakes and strengthen our strategies.
The success and struggle stories presented by Latin American advocates, such as Dulce Ramirez and Emmanuel Márquez, were particularly inspiring, reminding us of the importance of resilience and creativity. The spirit of collaboration and unity at the AVA Summit reaffirmed our conviction that, by working together, we can move towards a world where animals are not exploited and the plant-based lifestyle is the norm.
In summary, the ideas and connections we brought back to Plant Futures have energized and determined us to continue our mission with renewed passion and commitment.
Acknowledgements
We want to thank all the organizers of the AVA Summit and the incredible speakers for their valuable contributions. We are excited about the new ideas and connections we brought back to Plant Futures and look forward to implementing and sharing these experiences with our community.
