The challenge of defining and measuring sustainability will be explored at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s annual Stakeholders Summit, to be held May 6-7, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. Early registration is now available for the 2015 edition of the Alliance’s showcase event, themed “The Journey to Extraordinary.”
On the opening day of the Summit, a duo of industry experts will explain how their respective industries have made establishing a scientific approach to gauging sustainability a priority. On this panel, Paul Bredwell, vice president of environmental programs for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, will provide details about U.S. Poultry’s developing sustainability initiative. Joining him will be Dr. Roger Cady, global sustainability lead for Elanco. Dr. Cady will share how Elanco is integrating productivity and environmentally sustainable practices within the dairy industry. The final panelist will be Brian Jones, responsible sourcing manager with Nestlé North America Procurement, who will share how Nestlé is incorporating the concept of sustainability into supplier relationships and purchasing decisions.
Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer for JBS USA, will address Summit attendees on the second day of the event about the animal agriculture industry’s shared journey of continuous improvement, highlighting how all members of the supply chain have a role to play in ensuring a sustainable future. In addition to his role with JBS USA, Bruett serves as the president of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
“Sustainability is a buzzword that comes up frequently when considering the future of agriculture,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “While everyone seems to agree on the importance of a sustainable industry, defining the concept and assigning metrics to gauge our progress in this area is not as clear-cut. Our speakers will help attendees understand how different sectors of the industry are addressing the challenge of taking sustainability from a tenuous idea to something that’s ingrained in company and industry culture and decision-making.”
This year’s event will explore animal agriculture’s continuous efforts to embrace new technologies that will help feed a growing population while measuring sustainability, engage consumers in innovative ways to bridge the knowledge gap, and highlight initiatives that demonstrate agriculture’s commitment to transparency.