A New Research Advisory Committee for the Future

The Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) sets research priorities and directs research activities, subject to approval by the Foundation Board of Directors.  The RAC is comprised of scientific leaders in industry, academia, and government who volunteer their time to serve in this critical capacity.  For nearly two decades, the RAC has focused on meat and poultry safety research.  As we embark on the next decade with an expanded research agenda, the RAC too must be expanded to meet these needs.  In 2020, the Research Advisory Committee will be recreated to ensure experts in fresh and processed meat and poultry safety, nutritional sciences, animal production, and product quality are part of subcommittees addressing each of these topic areas.  Each subcommittee will meet and identify research priorities in their areas of expertise, which will then be shared across the entire RAC.  These priorities will be used to communicate with governmental agencies, interested stakeholders and the general public and are intended to show the broad scope and diverse research needs of the industry.  Critical priorities will serve as the basis for the Foundation’s Request for Proposals, which are typically released each summer.  We look forward to reporting on the new RAC in future newsletters.