The Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education (Foundation) is a non-profit research, education and information foundation established to study ways the meat and poultry industry can produce better, safer products and operate more efficiently. The Foundation engages leaders from industry, academia and government to advance scientific understanding related to food safety, nutrition, the environment and worker safety, among other issues. The Foundation does not engage in policymaking, but as needed provides scientific evidence and context to governmental agencies. The Foundation is supported by voluntary contributions from individuals and companies.
Board of Directors
The Foundation’s Board of Directors (Directors) provides scientific leadership, financial oversight and acts upon recommendations from the Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee. Each member of the Meat Institute’s Executive Board is afforded the opportunity to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors or may appoint a designee to serve on his or her behalf. In an effort to broaden the scope of influence and direction, representatives from the livestock (beef, pork, poultry and egg), retail, academic, government agency, and consumer sectors, among others, are invited to serve on the Board of Directors. These representatives are nominated by the Foundation’s Chair and President. Terms are for one year and begin on the first day of the fiscal year.
Research
The Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) sets research priorities and directs research activities, subject to approval by the Foundation Board of Directors. The scope of the Foundation’s research activities accounts for existing and emerging issues as well as outside funding sources, e.g., as a contractor to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. The RAC is comprised of leaders in industry, academia and government who volunteer their time to serve in this critical capacity. RAC members are experts in fresh and ready-to-eat meat and poultry safety, nutritional sciences, animal production and/or product quality. The RAC is also tasked with identifying post-harvest beef safety and processed beef nutrition research that may be funded with Beef Checkoff dollars within the context of Foundation’s priorities and Cattlemen’s Beef Board approval. The RAC meets each spring to develop the Foundation’s Research Priorities. These priorities are used when communicating 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 designated as Priority Focus serve as the basis for the Foundation’s Request for Proposals, which are typically released each summer. Research funding routinely occurs in, but is not restricted to, January.
Education
The Foundation is committed to providing timely and relevant educational programming to meet the needs of the Meat Institute’s members, others in the meat and poultry industry and their retail and foodservice customers. Content is designed largely by the Meat Institute’s program committees and focuses on improving product safety, humane animal handling, labor and employment issues, environmental concerns and product quality, among others. Special workshops, seminars, webinars and other programs are developed to meet needs as they arise.