After some discussion, I informed the group that I believed such a coalition already existed and that the NRA should seek to become part of it. It was the Animal Agriculture Coalition (AAC), which was organized in the early 1980s and originally called the Forum on Animal Agriculture. I was on the staff of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at the time and was involved in the creation of the forum. The original purpose was for animal agriculture to develop a uniform voice when approaching the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research Service for a fair share of the federal research dollars. At the time, the plant industry was getting the lion’s share of the federal dollars for research. In order to get a larger chunk of the pie, animal agriculture needed to get organized. The forum was successful in accomplishing many of its original goals.
With these successes, the forum identified other issues to unite behind. It did not want to get too broad, but its members wanted to identify the issues it could work on together on behalf of animal agriculture. Somewhere along the way the forum was renamed to become the AAC.
In retrospect, the renderers should have been members from the beginning. However, at the time, there was no visible presence of the rendering industry in this particular circle of organizations in Washington, DC. Subsequent to the meeting in Rosslyn in 1997, the NRA approached the AAC and asked to be included. We were quickly accepted. The AAC members immediately recognized the contributions the rendering industry could make to the coalition.
Now fast forward to the present day. During the first week in July 2006, the AAC organized a roundtable on animal disposal at that same hotel in Rosslyn, VA. This time the renderers were there and made a major contribution to the program.
Some member organizations of the AAC have become increasingly concerned about the farm animal disposal policies, or lack of them, at the state and federal levels. They recognize that the pending FDA proposed changes to the feed rule, if finalized, could have a severe impact on how deadstock on the farm and specified risk materials (SRMs) will be ultimately disposed.
During the planning of the roundtable, it became apparent there were a lot of questions about the rendering industry. The planners asked the NRA to sponsor a panel of renderers to address these questions. We didn’t need to be asked twice.
The purpose of the roundtable was first, to raise the awareness of the issue to the right audience and second, to have the right audience in attendance. With the proceedings of the roundtable, a final report will be developed with the intention of reaching an even wider audience.
Attendance, while lighter than hoped for, included representatives from the USDA, FDA, and several industry organizations. The renderer panel included NRA Chairman Dave Kaluzny, Kaluzny Bros.; Mike Langenhorst, Sanimax; J.J. Smith, Valley Proteins; and Dr. Ross Hamilton, Darling International. If I might brag, they were the highlight and most important part of the entire roundtable. Collectively, they articulately educated the audience about the rendering industry and explained what the consequences could be if the proposed changes to the FDA feed rule were finalized. In doing so, they enlightened the attendees on the importance of rendering to livestock producers.
Kaluzny started the discussion with an overview of the rendering industry. He shared the Informa study that was commissioned by the NRA in response to the proposed rule. The study provided updated information from an industry survey conducted by Informa and shed light on how much renderers would reduce their collection of deadstock, including all species, if the proposed rule was implemented.
Smith was next with real company facts and figures explaining renderer economics. He explained why farmers and ranchers would be faced with considerably higher collection charges by illustrating the differing values for the finished products depending on whether SRMs needed to be removed.
Hamilton then discussed the disposal affects on both animal and human health. He explained that as new feed restrictions are considered, so must disposal of the raw materials. A shift in raw material disposal raises valid biosecurity and environmental issues.
Langenhorst wrapped up the panel discussion by showing what has worked and not worked in other countries, particularly in the European Union and Canada. He urged the attendees to learn from the past and prepare properly for the future.
A committee of the AAC is now reviewing all the presentations with the intention of writing a final report of the roundtable for broader distribution to appropriate government offices, industry, and other interested parties. NRA Vice President for Scientific Services David Meeker is on the committee preparing the report.
NRA’s participation as a member of the AAC has allowed the industry a place at the table when important livestock and meat issues are being addressed.
From the Association - August 2006 Render