The hurdles are familiar: unpredictable climates, resource constraints, and the pressure of feeding millions. Yet these present an immense opportunity to seek answers and to design smarter production systems. It gives me immense satisfaction to witness our university becoming a stage for such forward-looking dialogue. On behalf of WBUAFS, I welcome each one of you with open arms and an open heart to a few days of learning, sharing, and co-creating a better future for animal agriculture. As we gather under the skies of Kolkata, a city where intellect and emotion have always walked hand in hand, I hope this conference will inspire not only scientific exchange, but new friendships, renewed motivation, and meaningful direction.