In early May, the Alliance hosted its 2023 Stakeholders Summit themed “Partners in Progress: Building a Sustainable Future for Animal Ag.” The annual Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference which attracted a diverse crowd of almost 320 decision makers, including...
In early May, the Alliance hosted its 2023 Stakeholders Summit themed “Partners in Progress: Building a Sustainable Future for Animal Ag.” The annual Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference which attracted a diverse crowd of almost 320 decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, allied industries, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities, government agencies, and media. The conference featured a dynamic group of speakers from across commodities and the food supply chain. Attendees were able to learn how to do their part to help protect, sustain, and advance our entire community.
From Farm to Table
Ray Starling, general counsel for the North Carolina Chamber, kicked off the Summit with a presentation on “Farmers versus Foodies” where he discussed an epic battle going on over who will call the shots for the agriculture and food system of the future. Starling discussed what he calls the “farmer versus foodie conundrum” that has the potential to impact food security for generations to come and how the food and farming communities can bridge the gap. Find a copy of Starling’s book “Farmers Versus Foodies” here.
“If we look at what we were producing with one man hour of labor after World War II in agriculture and compare it to what we’re doing today, [we are] 1600 times as productive with one hour of labor. No other industry comes even close.” – Starling
Danielle Cummins, senior intelligence analyst for Aimpoint Research, led a session titled, “From the Farm Gate to Dinner Plate,” discussing how our food system is experiencing an unprecedented rate of change and shifting consumer preferences are part of what is driving this evolution. The next generations of consumers are completely transforming the way we relate to brands, products, and the environment. Cummins shared how all businesses involved in the agri-food value chain can be vigilant, adaptable, innovative, and proactive when it comes to building relationships and meeting consumer demands, including creating visibility from field to shelf.
Animal Agriculture and Sustainability
Sustainability is another hot topic in the agriculture field currently, and we are working together towards a sustainable future. The Summit hosted a panel on “Technology in Agriculture: Building on Sustainability Progress,” which was moderated by Sarah Little of North American Meat Institute, and the speakers included Dr. Johan van Arendonk of Hendrix Genetics, Dr. Paul Davis with the American Feed Industry Association, and Austin Gellings with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. During this session the panel discussed new developments including the dairy community’s journey to net zero by 2050, new collaborative initiatives within the feed sector, and what it means to set the standard for sustainable animal breeding.
“We want to start with the right machine [genetically capable animals] and then provide the right fuels: environment, comfort, feed, animal health, all the things that we put into those good genetically capable animals,” – Davis
When feed and production efficiency is improved, we are inherently making progress in sustainability. To increase full adoption of technology to move sustainability progress forward, we need:
Policies that reward innovation. To grow farm income, which means more capital to invest in farms and facilities. To improve enabling infrastructure, such as rural broadband. To improve communication with consumers and build trust in science.
Another panel discussing “Supply Chain Sustainability: Practical Lessons from the Field to the Corporate Office” was held at Summit this year, moderated by Sara Crawford of Sustainable Environmental Consultants, along with panelists Matt Fry of Fair Hill Farms, Katherine Staiger with Danone, and Angela Anderson of Starbucks. This session highlighted a collaborative effort to merge science and data with real change and show the value of having the right partners on the journey.
“Sustainability is the hottest talked about item when it comes to these areas [environmental, social, and governance reporting]… and you better have a plan in place.” – Anderson
Attendees at all stages of the process learned valuable lessons on how to create and implement a successful sustainability program, whether they are just starting to set goals or have already set their goals but aren’t sure how to drive positive change.
“Telling Your Story: Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting,” was another in-depth panel at Summit, moderated by Marcy Tessmann of C.O.nxt, and featured speakers Christina Lood with Zoetis, Sydney Reese of Prime Pursuits, and Cassie Jo Arend with Shift•ology Communication. It is important in the animal agriculture community that we are able to communicate our progress and goals to the right audiences in a compelling way. This discussion highlighted how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platforms are good for any organization but essential for those that deal with misinformation and loud adversarial voices. CSR platforms should be strategic efforts and require a commitment to invest in key initiatives to make it believable as companies tell their story.
Plenty of hot topics were covered at this year’s Stakeholder Summit – too much to fit into one blog post! Keep an eye out for part two of “Partnering for a Sustainable Future” and check out our highlights report with key takeaways and quotes from each session.
Save the date for the 2024 Summit, slated for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Missouri! Stay tuned to #AAA23 for updates.
All posts are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of the Animal Ag Alliance.
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