FPRF members met first. They reviewed 31 research proposals and approved funding for several of them. The FPRF formally accepted an agreement with Clemson University to establish and support an Animal Co-Products Research and Education Center, giving the rendering industry a major relationship with a land grant university. Renderers and Clemson researchers are excited and enthusiastic with this partnership.
APPI members followed up on their previously adopted Code of Practice by initiating a series of workshops under the auspices of their Institute for Continuing Education (see “Newsline”). The workshops, three of them are scheduled this year, will be designed to assist renderers to have successful audits of the Code of Practice. There was a strong expression of support for the workshops with many renderers committing to attend and participate.
NRA members convened last with approximately 75 renderers present. The committee meetings were very well attended with a lot of territory covered. There was particular interest at the Environmental, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, and Legislative Committee meetings where the important issues of the day were addressed.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) continues to be of interest as the industry waits to see what, if anything, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does to change the feed rule. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials thanked the renderers for their significant role in the success of the accelerated BSE surveillance program. At the time of the meeting, there had been 347,000 samples collected and tested negative in the first 11 months of the program. An announcement as to the future of the testing program is pending.
Plans were made for the fifth NRA Congressional Fly-in for June 13-15 in Washington, DC. This issue of Render along with several background and position papers for the rendering industry will be distributed to over 100 congressional offices. The fly-in has been a very good investment for the industry.
Industry Reorganization Proceeding
At the 2004 NRA convention in New Orleans, LA, several renderers expressed an interest to bring the NRA, APPI, and FPRF closer together. The NRA Board of Directors moved to develop a plan for submission to APPI and FPRF for their consideration, unanimously approving a proposal whereby APPI would become a standing committee of the NRA with existing responsibilities of education, biosecurity, and the Code of Practice. The APPI Board of Directors has reacted favorably to the NRA proposal and established a committee to further review and make recommendations for its approval.
The NRA proposed to manage the FPRF so it will remain a non-profit research, education, and information foundation. The FPRF Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposal. NRA will work closely with both the FPRF and APPI to assure all concerns and interests are properly and satisfactorily addressed. We’ll keep you informed as we proceed.
NRA, FPRF, and APPI members also had the opportunity during the spring meetings to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Gary Pearl who is retiring after 12 years of dedicated service to the rendering industry as FPRF president. Gary and his wife, Sandy, have worked as a team during Gary’s tenure at FPRF. They leave FPRF a strong and highly respected organization recognized throughout the animal and biodiesel industries.
On a personal note, I want to thank Gary and Sandy for all of their assistance and cooperation to myself and the NRA. Gary was a great help when I joined the NRA eight years ago. We’ve worked together in coordinating and planning our respective meetings. When the NRA got involved in the legislative and regulatory areas regarding biodiesel, Gary was there providing his expertise and knowledge on the issue. He has been the industry expert on biodiesel. His papers and back-grounders on biodiesel have been invaluable as the industry tells its story of the contributions renderers are making to this growing industry. We wish them well as they move on to the next phase of their lives.
From the Association - June 2005 Render