Around 200 B.C., when the Silk Road opened the transportation of silk, fruits, livestock and grain from China to modern-day Europe, the lesser-known Royal Road had already been a major communication link for almost 300 years, providing a route for couriers from present-day Iran to western Turkey. One could say that communication and the transportation of food have been connected ever since, for over 2,600 years.
Continuing my blog series on industry leaders, here’s another mover and shaker: Nath Morris. Recently, Nath was named president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY), after serving as USPOULTRY’s executive vice president of expo for nine years. I became acquainted with Nath through the American Feed Industry Association’s partnership with USPOULTRY on the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), in which I have been having 7 a.m. calls every Friday for years with both Nath and our partners at the Meat Institute. Let’s just say, making 7 a.m. calls every week, we got to know each other very well! Below , you will find the highlights of our conversation.
Another year of discussing topics affecting the U.S. animal food industry has passed. As the end of the year is always a time of reflection, we looked at the top social media posts across the American Feed Industry Association’s social media platforms that our followers loved the most (so we can continue to bring you content you love!).
This year’s United Nations Climate Conference turned the spotlight on food and agriculture, with a full day devoted to recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming and shielding agriculture from the worst impacts of climate change. The focus on food and agriculture in the context of climate must include a look at the many ways in which biotechnology is delivering solutions, from animal feed engineered to reduce methane emissions from livestock, to crops that are bioengineered to withstand growing pressures from disease and drought.
I have been blessed to work with many dedicated professionals who have enlightened or mentored me during my career in agriculture policy. Dr. Paul Sundberg is one of those individuals who has been there from the beginning when I started as an intern in Washington, D.C., with the National Pork Producers Council. Our paths continued to cross as I moved to work for different species organizations and luckily, it continued here in the feed industry.
The American Feed Industry Association’s offices will be closed Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, reopening on Jan. 2, 2024. For urgent requests, please leave a voicemail at (703) 524-0810 and someone will return your call within 24 hours. Happy holidays!
As my internship journey with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the incredible experiences and growth that this opportunity has provided. From day one, the AFIA team welcomed me with open arms, and the past few months have been nothing short of transformative. With gratitude in my heart, I'd like to extend a sincere thanks to everyone, especially Victoria and Raamezah, who have been a part of this enriching chapter of my life.
Often, people refer to the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP) as a “three-ring circus” because of all the happenings that take place there. This year’s COP28, held in Dubai, was no different. We held our breath as countries’ policy positions reached new heights, knowledge sharing walked a tightrope, and the COP presidency declarations became the only elephant in the room. The American Feed Industry Association’s Constance Cullman and I were not only spectators of the multilateral meeting, but also active participants.
In 2004 Facebook, Gmail and Firefox were launched and our use of electrons for social, academic and business purposes changed forever. The horizon was wide open for imagination to influence innovations and as a society we have never looked back. That same year, animal food manufacturers started their quest to modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulatory oversight of animal food additives. In 2004, products were being developed that would improve animal productivity and wellness and reduce pathogens in human foods derived from animals. But there was no regulatory equivalent to the electronic highway to bring these products to the marketplace, farmers where stuck with the governing equivalent of floppy discs as CVM policy blocked the delivery of these exciting products into the hands of U.S. animal owners. Farmers and ranchers in other countries had the regulatory tools to use these scientific advances for the betterment of human health, animal health and the environment while U.S. farmers chugged along hampered by archaic federal policies.
I am delighted to share that the American Feed Industry Association has hired its first policy communications specialist, which will be vital in helping our legislative, regulatory and policy team better communicate members’ priorities to key policymakers. Madison Wyman is a recent graduate of Furman University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in politics and international affairs and communication studies last May. She has broad government affairs and communications experience and a passion for advocacy, as evident in her recent move to Washington, D.C. Learn more about her below.