FPRF opened their two-and-a-half day session with a workshop that closely examined the industry’s future research requirements. Long-time industry supporter and researcher, Dr. Terry Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska, suggested putting research money into non-feed uses, which was the focus of a second workshop the following day. Dr. Davis Clements, Renewable Products Development Laboratories, held a brainstorming rally on non-feed/non-food opportunities for rendered products. Industrial uses for meat and bone meal dominated the many suggestions, which also included using feathers as an oil absorbent. Clements and FPRF noted the various ideas and will set priorities based on member’s input.
FPRF’s popular Emerging Issues and Opportunities Seminar featured an array of speakers, but not before Dr. Gary Pearl, FPRF president, asked for a moment of silence in honor of Jerry Smith, Valley Proteins, who passed away in late April. Smith was instrumental in establishing biodiesel research within the foundation.
Getting the seminar underway was Camil Lagacé, Montreal Biobus project, who presented the results of a two-and-a-half year project using yellow grease and animal fats-based biodiesel in 155 buses in the Montreal, QB, Canada, fleet. He emphasized that the project’s blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel (B20) worked well in the cold Canadian winter, down to minus 26 degrees Fahrenheit. Lagacé explained that the carbon monoxide (CO2) emissions were reduced by 2,000 tons using B20, and using the same animal fat or yellow grease-based biodiesel blend in Montreal’s entire fleet of 1,600 buses could potentially reduce the CO2 emissions by 22,000 tons a year. Another benefit of the project was the 50 percent less wear on the bus’ mechanical parts.
Lagacé further stated that electronic injection engines that used animal fats or yellow grease-based biodiesel helped lower emissions better than mechanical injection engines, especially the nitrogen oxide emissions. He believes the Montreal fleet will have 85 to 95 percent of their buses running electronic injection engines within four to five years. The Biobus project report is available on the Internet at www.stm.info.
Dr. Bud Harmon, Purdue University, followed with his recent experience with the Purdue University/Winrock International Swine Workshops conducted in China. He said pork production in China has doubled since 1984 and is five times that of the United States; rice consumption is dropping; and western culture eating habits are abounding. McDonald’s restaurants are very successful in China, with 57 in Beijing alone.
“China will increasingly have to import food to meet growing demands,” Harmon stated.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, Purdue and Winrock have held 30 schools emphasizing swine nutrition and feeding. Although the budget was for 50 students in each school, Harmon said there were no less than 100 students in each, with one school boasting 700 students.
“That was unbelievable,” he commented, adding that the by-product of these schools is a close relationship with Chinese feed companies. Harmon emphasized that a quick delivery of feed ingredients is the biggest challenge facing renderers wishing to export to China. He said it takes 36 to 48 hours to get a container load of imported dried whey to a feed plant in China from the time the order is placed.
“I challenge those of you who can’t fill an order in 36 hours in China to develop the infrastructure to meet that market,” Harmon said.
Dr. Lewis Atkinson, Meat and Livestock Australia, explained that to generate a creative research environment requires capable people, projects with a vision and collabo-rative partnerships, a passion to align with an industry or company, and a process to measure performance.
Dr. Jeffre Firman, University of Missouri, discussed the value of animal proteins, explaining that safety fears, perception issues, concerns about the efficiency, availability, and variation of proteins, dietary formulation constraints, and lack of education are just a few reasons animal proteins are not used more widely. Firman pointed out that competition from other countries, environmental concerns primarily with regards to phosphorous and nitrogen, antibiotic use, and welfare issues are all hurdles to face in the future.
“I have found that research and science have become less important and price more important,” he added.
Dr. Peggy Hsieh, Florida State University, presented the current technology for detecting specific specie tissue in meat and meat by-products. She compared two methods of detection: immunoassay and DNA-based assay. Hsieh’s previous research on using immunoassays for detecting bovine material was developed into a commercial test currently marketed by Neogen Corporation. She has submitted a proposal to FPRF for research on using the same test technology to detect ovine, cervid, and porcine specie tissue in meat and meat products.
After lunch, much discussion focused on the possible development of an Animal Co-Products Research Institute at Clemson University in South Carolina. Dean Calvin Schoulties provided a brief introduction to the 110-year-old university followed by Clemson’s Dr. Annel Green’s argument on the benefits of establishing a research institute at the university. She addressed the three areas Clemson will contribute to the research – thermal processing, environmental protection, and new product development, how the center would be formed, and the possibility of seeking federal, state, and local funding.
The FPRF Board of Directors finished up the day with their meeting, deciding on four areas that require attention in the next year: more applied research in aquaculture, especially in Asia, companion animal nutrition, international research, and education and awareness of the rendering industry to university students.
Pearl reported that the group is doing well financially, with most of this year’s contributions in excess of last year’s. Four research projects were approved focusing on: animal fat as turbine fuels; a quality assurance and biosecurity demonstration of hazard analysis and critical control points; a cooperative project focusing on bioplastics from animal proteins; and the immunoassay test project by Hsieh. The board decided to assemble a steering committee to investigate the feasibility and interest in the Animal Co-Products Research Institute at Clemson University.
NRA Hashes It Out
The following day, the NRA committees gathered, beginning with the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Committee. Kevin Custer, American Proteins, shared with members a letter sent to him by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that “poultry product meal” is a legitimate feed ingredient that can be used for interstate commerce, although some states may not accept it because AAFCO does not recognize it as an ingredient.
“The precedence is there,” Custer stated referring to the FDA letter. “We’ll just have to see how it goes.”
The Communications Committee held a lengthy discussion on how to progress on a new rendering book. One committee member recommended a multimedia project instead that could be distributed on a compact disc and used by university professors in their lectures, which was well received by others. It was agreed to pursue the project in collaboration with the Animal Protein Producers Industry (APPI) and FPRF.
John Thorne, NRA consultant, briefed members of the Environmental Committee by conference call on the various issues in Washington, DC, including a renewed interest in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule to separate a reference to petroleum oils from a new section that pertains to non-toxic oils, including rendered fats. He explained that because of the work being done on the SPCC, the deadline for compliance has been extended to August 2004.
Thorne next updated the committee on the status of the EPA’s progress on finalizing their effluent limitation guidelines for meat processing facilities, and a fuel switching paper that is due for release at any time.
“It’s going to create opportunities for you,” Thorne commented. “I think you’ll be able to switch with ease when this thing comes out.”
The Legislative Committee held a conference call with Steve Kopperud, NRA legislative consultant, who commented on the newly released Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (see “Rendered Products Receive Equality in CCC Program”).
“We now have the U.S. government saying there is equity in these products,” Kopperud stated. He also discussed FDA’s Bioterrorism Act as it relates to food processors, of which renderers will fall under. Kopperud explained that all renderers will be required to register by the end of the year and use their registration number on all documentation.
“If you don’t register or you register incorrectly, you will be banned from doing business in the United States,” he warned.
Kopperud informed members that according to FDA, a small local company in Washington state has failed repeatedly to comply with the ruminant feed ban regulation and may face action by FDA.
Mike Langenhorst, Anamax Corporation, further addressed the CCC program, explaining that the new program stipulates that a company must have a risk in production to qualify for the subsidy, one company cannot receive more than five percent of the total yearly allocation, and a quarterly report must be filled out and submitted to the USDA.
“A lot of the inequities in the old program have been taken care of,” Langenhorst commented. He went on to highlight the rendering industry’s increased involvement in the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), giving credit to Dennis Griffin, Griffin Industries. Out of the 40 NBB members, six are NRA renderer members. Langenhorst encouraged other renderers to join the board prior to November.
Tom Cook, NRA president, reminded everyone about the upcoming Congressional Fly-In in June, at which U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman is scheduled to speak with renderers at a USDA briefing. He added that what was originally thought to be held only once every few years, must now remain an annual event.
“With the legislative changes, it really has become more important each year to continue the fly-in,” Cook commented.
The NRA Convention Committee evaluated the proposed schedule for the upcoming annual convention October 21-25, 2003, in Scottsdale, AZ. Future conventions are October 19-23, 2004, in New Orleans, LA, and October 25-29, 2005 in Lake Las Vegas, NV.
The afternoon was reserved for the International Market Development Committee, where various problematic trade issues were addressed, including the European Union 1774/2002 regulation’s delay in implementation for third countries, and material being prohibited for importation into Egypt (see “International Report” on page 30).
Neville Chandler, NRA regional director, recapped a new law being put in place in the United Kingdom to handle cattle and deadstock. Beginning August 1, 2003, on-farm burial of such animals is illegal in the United Kingdom and a national carcass collection scheme will be implemented. The cost is $150 per year for the average farm, which will allow farmers to have their deadstock picked up by a renderer for processing. The finished rendered material is then incinerated. Chandler also highlighted upcoming events, including trade team visits to the United States from Egypt and South Africa.
NRA Regional Director German Davalos gave a brief report on Central America, including utilizing a free trade agreement that went into effect January 1, 2003, to address regulations and trade barriers limiting animal protein exports into Central America.
Kent Swisher, vice president, NRA International Programs, gave an overview of circumstances in China and the strategies the association and government officials are trying to put in place to resolve the situation (see “From the Association” on page 22). He said the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test being used in China to detect ovine material in rendered products is extremely sensitive and often presents false positives. Swisher said there is much frustration in finding a short-term solution to the PCR test since an alternative is not currently available.
A “hand-washing campaign” to promote tallow-based soap among grade school kids is scheduled for June in China. NRA Regional Director Dr. Yu Yu is seeking donations from soap companies to use in the campaign.
The NRA Board of Directors wrapped up the weeklong session with their meeting, which began with a moment of silence to honor three NRA members who recently passed away: Gary Bottomley, American Proteins; Jerry Smith, Valley Proteins; and Roger Garrett, Diversified Laboratories. Cook began the meeting with a reminder that the association has an ample supply of the Rendering – Gate Keeper for Food Safety and the Environment brochure available for members.
Dr. Peter Nersessian, vice president, NRA Scientific Services, discussed a request by the Accelerated National Scrapie Eradication Program coordinator who asked for the rendering industry’s assistance with disposal of carcasses of scrapie-exposed, not infected, animals. As per USDA policy, scrapie-affected sheep must be destroyed by burial or incineration. After much discussion among the committee, it was decided that although eradicating scrapie would benefit the U.S. rendering industry, the decision to assist in the program would be left up to the individual rendering companies.
Individual committee reports were presented next, beginning with the IMDC, where Michael Koewler, president, Pacific Coast Renderers Association (PCRA), presented a $17,500 donation check to Swisher for the IMDC on behalf of the PCRA members. David Baas, Inland Products, followed with a $5,000 donation from the NRA Eastern Region, and Jim Rudbeck, recently retired NRA vice president, International Programs, was recognized for his service to the association.
Langenhorst gave a report on the Legislative Action committee, informing the board that five NRA representatives would be meeting with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) May 16, 2003, to discuss how renderers can be involved with CVM’s chronic wasting disease model program. He also encouraged participation in the NRA Congressional Fly-In in June.
“You can’t believe the effect this fly-in has,” Langenhorst quipped. “It is so important. Grass roots mean more to these people [legislators] than anything.”
Among the rest of the meeting speakers was Nersessian, who informed attendees that APPI is working on a voluntary Code of Practice, similar to the Australian Renderers Association’s codes, to promote the safety of animal by-products. Baas proposed to the board that the association combine the dwindling Eastern Region with the Central Region. It was agreed to study the feasibility of combining regions while still having proper regional representation on the NRA board of directors.
June 2003 Render