Blog Archives - Page 3 of 6 - North American Renderers Association

60 Years of FPRF

Posted on October 19, 2022 (October 31, 2024) by Anna

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), the rendering industry’s research organization. The Fats and Proteins Research Foundation was originally hatched from a committee within the NARA (formerly the National Renderers Association), but it quickly became evident that a full time research foundation was necessary to represent the research needs of the rendering industry. So, 60 years ago, FRPF was established as a full-time effort devoted to research,

NARA Talks Sustainability at USDA’s Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair

Posted on September 30, 2022 (March 22, 2023) by Anna

Earlier this month, on September 14th, NARA’s Director of Communications, Anna Wilkinson joined other esteemed speakers from the agriculture, reduced food waste and sustainability industries for USDA’s 2nd Annual Virtual Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair. In her presentation titled “Rendering: The Unsung Hero of Sustainability,” she detailed why the often-overlooked rendering industry is actually a major player in the reduction of food waste. She discussed rendering’s important role in not only food waste reduction

NARA Staff Visits Two Member Rendering Plants

Posted on August 23, 2022 (March 22, 2023) by Anna

Guest Post By NARA Staff Member, Heather Davis During a recent personal vacation NARA’s Coordinator of Member Relations, Heather Davis, took a detour to visit two nearby NARA member rendering plants; G.A. Wintzer & Son Co, and The Dupps Company headquarters and equipment manufacturing hub. Heather was later joined by NARA’s Senior Vice President of Scientific Services, Dr. David Meeker. We asked Heather to share her experience at both plant tours in a

NARA President Testifies on Rendering Sustainability Benefits at House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Posted on July 29, 2022 (March 22, 2023) by Anna

On July 15th, President, and CEO of the North American Renderers Association (NARA), Kent Swisher, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on the sustainability benefits of rendering. Swisher was one of four witnesses testifying and the sole representative of the agriculture sector. He was joined by Dana Gunders, Executive Director, ReFED, Dr. Melinda Cep, Vice President for Natural Solutions and Working Lands, National Audubon Society, and Elly Brown,

Rendering’s Sustainability Story Gets a Boost: Feature Article Published in 3 International Agriculture and Animal Nutrition Magazines

Posted on June 30, 2022 (December 20, 2022) by Anna

International Petfood Magazine June 2022

Rendering education continues to be a top priority at NARA. The more awareness there is about what rendering is and what we do, the more renderers and NARA members can showcase rendering’s important contributions to reduced food waste and sustainability as a whole. Agricultural rendering is an industry that has largely “flown under the radar” for many years, but we are now proudly sharing our sustainability story. Rendering is by definition sustainable as we are

Happy Hamburger Month!

Posted on May 26, 2022 (December 20, 2022) by Anna

According to who you ask, May is the National month of various beef products with Wikipedia listing 3 National days dedicated to the meat within the month including National Italian Beef Day, National Brisket Day and National Burger day (on May 27, 28 and 29th respectively), and many celebrate the entire month of May in honor of hamburgers. The hamburger: though a category all its own, it is arguably America’s favorite “sandwich” and certainly

Podcast: Biofuels & Renewable Diesel

Posted on April 29, 2022 (December 20, 2022) by Anna

In the 3rd episode of NARA’s quarterly podcast, The Invisible Industry, host Marcus Wintzer welcomes guest, Michael Rath, of Darling Ingredients, and episode co-host, Michael Karman, of Sanimax, to discuss biofuels & renewable diesel and rendering’s important role in these industries. We take a deep dive into the science behind these fuels, their benefits, why and how government involvement plays a role, and answer questions like “what exactly are biofuels” and “what is the difference

Dr. Meeker Receives Prestigious Tallow Master Award

Posted on March 30, 2022 (December 20, 2022) by Anna

two men in suits are shaking hands in a room

NARA and FPRF’s Senior Vice President of Scientific Services, Dr. David Meeker, has been presented with the prestigious Tallow Master Award in appreciation of his distinguished service and outstanding contributions to the American rendering industry. The award was presented at the Pacific Coast Renderers Association annual meeting in Laguna Niguel, California, earlier this month. In his acceptance of the award, Meeker said, “Working for renderers has been the best job of my career.

Pairing Service Dogs With Those in Need

Posted on February 25, 2022 (December 20, 2022) by Anna

a little girl in a purple dress playing with a dog

As our regular blog readers know, NARA recently launched a quarterly podcast, The Invisible Industry, where we discuss and educate on all things rendering. In our newest episode, aired on January 22, we interview staff from Canine Companions to talk about the great work they do to pair service dogs with those in need, and discuss NARA’s longtime partnership with the non-profit organization. For this important conversation, host Marcus Wintzer, and episode co-host, Richard Weeks,

2021 Don Franco Distinguished Service Award Winner

Posted on December 22, 2021 (April 25, 2023) by Anna

NARA is pleased to announce the 2021 “Don Franco Distinguished Service Award” has been presented to Kevin Custer for his leadership and longtime commitment to the rendering industry, NARA, and to the association’s research and related programs. The Don Franco Distinguished Service Award is NARA’s highest honor. It recognizes truly outstanding work on behalf of the rendering industry in science, policy, marketing, or communications and is presented to a member, staff, or friend of the

Category: Blog