WE ARE ORGANIZING THE 39THCONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ANIMAL GENETICS TO BE HELD IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA FROM JULY 2 TO JULY 7, 2023.IT IS THE FIRST TIME AN ISAG CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN A COUNTRY IN AFRICA. THE FUNDING REQUESTED FROM NIFA-AFRI WILL BE AWARDED AS BURSARIES TO COVER REGISTRATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES OF OUTSTANDING US GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS.RECIPIENTS OF BURSARIES WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON SCORES FOR SCIENTIFIC MERIT AND RELEVANCE TO ISAG OF SUBMITTED ABSTRACTS, WHICH WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE EDITORIAL TEAM FOR ANIMAL GENETICS.SHARING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN CREATING AND APPLYING COMMUNITY GENETIC AND GENOMIC TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO AID ADVANCEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTIVITY, HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF COMMODITY SPECIES (I.E. CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS, HORSES, POULTRY, AND AQUACULTURE) IS A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE ISAG CONFERENCE.THE THEME OF THE 39THCONFERENCE IS ANIMAL GENETICS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.THE TRADITIONAL ISAG CONFERENCE FORMAT BLENDS MORNING SESSIONS OF INVITED PLENARY TALKS WITH WORKSHOPS OF CONTRIBUTED PAPERS, POSTERS SESSIONS, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE HOST CITY OR REGION.ISAG IS POPULAR IN THE ANIMAL MOLECULAR GENETICS COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE CAMARADERIE AMONG RESEARCHERS THAT DEVELOPS AT THE CONFERENCE DUE TO THE BALANCE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGES AND FOR SOCIALIZING WITH INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATORS.