2020 is finally in the books and we at NARA are looking forward to many exciting new developments and projects to serve our members, spread the word on rendering’s sustainability, and continue representing rendering in global markets.
NARA’s staff is made up of 6 individuals and several consultants who support our seven programs: scientific services, the APPI program, international market development, legislative advocacy, communications, membership, and meetings.
Below is a snapshot of what’s ahead this year:
Regulatory and Scientific Services
- NARA will continue our partnership with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates animal food, other federal agencies. Coordination with allied agricultural organizations as well as involvement in foreign animal disease planning is ongoing.
- USDA, state veterinarians, and pork industry leaders will continue to jointly develop policies to prevent and control foreign animal diseases like African Swine Fever if they enter the United States.
- NARA will ensure government regulators know the effectiveness and importance of rendering and make recommendations to AAFCO and FDA on their ongoing review of all animal product feed definitions.
- NARA will continue to utilize science and data to support our mission by coordinating research funded by our sister organization, the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation.
- New research will be conducted on additional scientific documentation about the safety of rendered products and technologies needed to improve rendering. Partnering with other industries in the rendering supply chain, such as pet food, livestock feed, and ingredient manufacturing, will assist NARA in this mission.
International Market Development
- Goals this year are focused in high-potential global markets:
- Promotion of U.S. rendered products will occur in China since last year’s Phase One Agreement provided market access for these products.
- Work will continue with USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to encourage import protocols for meat and bone meal (MBM), gel bone, and blood products to China.
- Partnerships with the Pet Food Institute (PFI) and the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will continue to educate new APHIS staff members on what each industry does and their export issues.
- NARA plans to host an Indonesian audit delegation from the country’s Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services (DGLAHS). This will enable additional plant certification and increase exports to this important market.
- Efforts will also continue in Japan to open the market for poultry meal and feather meal.
- If the current administration continues to pursue a new trade agreement with the U.K., NARA will advocate for market access for tallow with U.S. negotiators.
- Now that U.S. bovine MBM is allowed into Mexico, NARA expects to conduct market promotion projects there in the coming year.
Legislative Advocacy
- Advocating for rendering’s interests on Capitol Hill and the Biden Administration will be a priority this year. With many new decision makers, much education is needed about rendering and its important role in agriculture, biofuels and contribution to our nation’s economy.
- This year, action on climate change and infrastructure improvement by Congress and the White House is expected to directly affect the rendering business.
- NARA will promote reindering’s important sustainability contributions, biodiesel and renewable diesel, the need for improved transportation, and other policies to enhance the business of rendering as these issues are debated.
Communicating Rendering’s Sustainability Message
- Promoting the sustainability of rendering will continue as the main goal of NARA’s communications program.
- A new peer-reviewed article about rendering’s sustainability and important role will be published in Animal Frontiers, the official journal of several professional meat organizations.
The article’s important sustainability points will be featured broadly across all NARA’s social media platforms, monthly blog, and website.
- NARA’s monthly newsletter and alerts will continue to provide regular news and industry information to keep members up to date on government regulations, export developments, and major events.
- Coordinating on joint projects with industry partners, such as the biodiesel, petfood, and feed industries, will continue this year to ensure ongoing collaboration.
- Colorful new infographics will be developed this year to educate the new U.S. Congress and Biden Administration about rendering’s sustainability benefits and importance with modern messaging and graphics.
We look forward to continuing to grow NARA’s mission with these and many other exciting new projects and developments on the horizon.
And we wish you a safe and bright 2021!
For more information on NARA’s programs, email us at info@nara.org.
