Podcast: Biofuels & Renewable Diesel

Diesel Made from Biomass

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

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Dr. Meeker Receives Prestigious Tallow Master Award

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.

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Pairing Service Dogs With Those in Need

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,

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2021 Don Franco Distinguished Service Award Winner

The 2021 Don Franco Distinguished Service Award Winner Kevin Custer

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

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We Have a New Podcast: The Invisible Industry

a logo for the invisible industry brought to you by the north american renderers association

NARA is excited to announce that we recently launched a new rendering podcast, The Invisible Industry: Everything You Didn’t Know (You Didn’t Know) About Rendering. Our panel style podcast airs quarterly episodes that discuss and educate on agricultural rendering, the rendering industry, and the sustainability benefits of rendering. Each episode features a new co-host from the rendering or related industry and unique guests who discuss a wide range of topics of interest to those in

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2021 Bisplinghoff Research Innovation Award Winner

two men shaking hands while one of them is holding a plaque

NARA’s sister research foundation, The Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), is pleased to announce that the 2021 “Bisplinghoff Research Innovation Award” has been presented to Merlin D. Lindemann, Ph.D, PAS, for his many years of research on the use of rendered products in swine nutrition. Dr. Lindemann is a professor of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky. His work has been instrumental in establishing the value of rendered products in pig

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3 Cheers for Doggos! Celebrating National Dog Day 2021

NARA II

National Dog Day is observed every year on August 26th, and if you are a pet parent to a pooch, we know you appreciate your furry friend 365 days of the year! But we like to recognize National Dog Day to remind you that the pet food you feed your fur babies is safe, healthy, and sustainable thanks to rendering. Rendered protein meals, derived from the rendering process, are a vital ingredient in safe pet

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From Fries to Fuel

From Fries to Fuel Graphic

July 13th is National French Fry day, and that makes us hungry…but it also makes us think of renewable fuels. Why you ask? Well, the used cooking oil (UCO) that these popular (and all too crave-able) morsels are fried in is actually vital to the renewable fuel and biomass-based diesel industries. Renderers pick up UCO from restaurants and much of it (along with rendered animal fat) is used to produce sustainable biomass-based diesel – namely

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We Interviewed Dr. Kevin Finneran on his ACREC Funded Work

Director of Communications for NARA and FPRF (the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation), Anna Wilkinson, recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Kevin Finneran, a recipient of one of 6 projects selected for this year’s funding at the Animal Co-Products Research & Education Center (ACREC).   ACREC is a joint project with Clemson University and FPRF with the mission to:   Ensure microbial safety of rendered products for animal feeds and consumer protection Promote environmentally

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Newly Published Peer Reviewed Article Spotlights Rendering’s Sustainability

a book that is laying flipped open to a page

We are excited to announce a newly published peer reviewed article, How Agricultural Rendering Supports Sustainability and Assists Livestock’s Ability to Contribute More Than Just Food, in the animal science journal, Animal Frontiers; Volume 11, issue 2. The journal article covers the sustainability of agricultural rendering by outlining its benefits for each of the three pillars of sustainability (Environmental, Social and Economic). Additionally, the article discusses the many ways that rendered products surround us every

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The North American Renderers Association (NARA) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate in the terms and conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other factor prohibited by law.

As a participant in USDA programs, we share the commitment to comply with all federal, state and local civil rights laws and those of the USDA. More about this commitment is available on the USDA website page here.