**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RUMINANTS FULFILL A UNIQUE NICHE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM AS THEY CAN HARVEST SUBSTANTIAL ENERGY AND HIGH-QUALITY MICROBIAL PROTEIN FROM BYPRODUCTS OF HUMAN FOOD PROCESSING AND FORAGES GROWN ON MARGINAL LAND. HOWEVER, RUMINANT PRODUCTION HAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS INCLUDING METHANE PRODUCTION. WE BELIEVE THAT CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF RUMINANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS REQUIRES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCIENTISTS STUDYING RUMINANTS ACROSS THE WORLD. THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON RUMINANT PHYSIOLOGY (ISRP) HAS BEEN THE WORLD'S LEADING RUMINANT PHYSIOLOGY CONFERENCE OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS AND WILL BE HOSTED IN THE USA IN 2024. OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE THE STRONG TRADITION OF THE MEETING IN PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO UPDATE ON CUTTING EDGE RUMINANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BRING TOGETHER SCIENTISTS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING THE BIOLOGY OF RUMINANTS. THE 2024 ISRP WILL ACCELERATE THE PROGRESS OF THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF RUMINANT PHYSIOLOGY IN THE USA AND ACROSS THE WORLD AND PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH RESEARCH FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. WE ALSO EXPECT THAT COLLABORATIONS WILL RESULT FROM THE CONVERSATIONS AND CONNECTIONS MADE DURING THE CONFERENCE AND THAT NEW AVENUES OF RESEARCH LEADING TO SOLUTIONS FOR IMPORTANT PROBLEMS IN MANAGEMENT OF RUMINANTS WILL BE DEVELOPED.