A matte gouache poster painting in muted olive, cream, and warm tan tones. A stylized globe sits at center, with soft radiating lines suggesting forward motion toward the year 2050. Silhouetted animal forms — a dog, a horse, a cow — encircle the globe in a quiet, hopeful composition. The overall mood is contemplative and aspirational, with gentle gradients and a scholarly feel.

VET VISION 2050

About the Program

VET VISION 2050 was a special initiative of the 33rd World Veterinary Congress, held at Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon, from August 27 to 31, 2017. The program brought together veterinary professionals from over 79 countries to explore the long-term future of the profession — examining how veterinary medicine, public health, and animal welfare might evolve over the coming decades.

Designed as a forward-looking forum, VET VISION 2050 encouraged participants to reflect on emerging challenges and opportunities shaping veterinary science worldwide.

The Vet Vision 2050 initiative at the 33rd World Veterinary Congress was a landmark effort to chart the future of veterinary medicine on a global scale. Held in Incheon, this forward-looking program invited professionals from across the world to consider how shifting environmental conditions, evolving animal disease patterns, and advances in biomedical science would reshape the profession. Participants explored themes ranging from emerging zoonotic threats to the integration of veterinary expertise into broader public health frameworks. The congress served as a vital platform for cross-border collaboration, emphasizing that the future of animal health is inseparable from human well-being and environmental sustainability.

A key component of the Vet Vision 2050 program was the comprehensive survey initiative launched months before the congress convened. This survey captured insights from veterinary practitioners, educators, and researchers across numerous countries, gathering diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the profession. The data collected informed discussions on critical topics such as food security, antimicrobial resistance, wildlife conservation, and the expanding role of veterinarians in One Health approaches. By grounding future-oriented conversations in real-world input from the global veterinary community, the survey helped ensure that the congress deliberations reflected both current realities and aspirational goals for the decades ahead.

The 33rd World Veterinary Congress in Incheon brought together an extraordinary breadth of veterinary expertise, with scientific sessions spanning small animal medicine, equine health, livestock production, public health, and emerging fields such as veterinary dentistry and diagnostic imaging. Beyond the formal program, the congress fostered invaluable networking among veterinarians, researchers, and policymakers from diverse regions including Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This international gathering underscored the importance of continued education and knowledge exchange in advancing veterinary science. The conversations sparked in Incheon continue to influence veterinary education curricula, research priorities, and clinical practices around the world.

Survey Initiative

In March 2017, the organizing committee launched a dedicated survey to gather perspectives from the global veterinary community. The survey invited input on key trends, anticipated breakthroughs, and priority areas for the profession through the year 2050.

Responses contributed to shaping the discussion sessions held during the congress and informed a broader dialogue about the future direction of veterinary education, research, and practice.

A matte gouache poster painting in deep olive and cream. An open notebook and a fountain pen rest on a wooden desk beside a small globe. Soft, diffuse light falls across the scene, suggesting quiet study and thoughtful planning. The palette is restrained and academic.

Congress Context

VET VISION 2050 was part of the broader scientific program at WVC Incheon 2017, which welcomed 5,117 participants. The congress featured plenary lectures, invited speakers, daily scientific sessions, poster awards, and joint meetings — including the Asian Veterinary Dental Forum. Social events such as the Beer Party with Experts and travel support through KVMA Friendship Travel Grants rounded out the gathering.

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