Meat&Poultry - March 2012 - 148

To:

Attendees and exhibitors of the 2012 AMI Meat, Poultry and Seafood Industry Convention and Expo

From: J. Patrick Boyle, Larry Odom
Welcome to the 2012 AMI Meat, Poultry & Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition! AMI is pleased to offer attendees the ultimate trade show experience with a packed educational agenda, networking opportunities and the most innovative exhibits anywhere. This year’s show is bigger than ever, thanks to our co-location with FMI 2012, sponsored by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), United Fresh 2012, sponsored by United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA) and the US Food Export Showcase, sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). We encourage you to make the most of the unparalleled access to the more than 1,200 food-related equipment and retailer exhibits covering more than one million square feet. In 2012, we can expect the industry to benefit from some positive developments in food safety, trade and ethanol policy. At the same time, we’ll face new challenges in these areas, too. Food safety continues to be a shining light for our industry. Over the past decade, we’ve reduced bacteria on our products and foodborne illness in our population dramatically. New research affirms that the intervention strategies we use to destroy E. coli O157:H7 on beef products is equally effective against other strains that have now moved into the spotlight. This past year, the progress continued, but so did the pressure to do more. The AMI Foundation continues to address non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E.coli in the beef supply, to work with our retail partners to address Listeria control in deli operations and to assist the meat and poultry industry to better understand the complex nature of Salmonella and develop strategies to reduce its presence.   In 2011, the meat and livestock industry saw a sharp increase in US meat export business, as well as passage of hard-earned and long-awaited new trade agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia. We expect continued progress in 2012. Overall, consumer demand for meat and poultry remains strong, despite higher food prices. While USDA’s consumption data raised concerns that Americans are reducing meat consumption, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia Agricultural Economist Ron Plain, Ph.D., clarified the difference between consumption and demand, stating that “Recent reporting about data on US meat and poultry and consumption has created a false and simplistic impression that demand for meat is declining.  This is simply not the case.” According to Dr. Plain, when prices and consumption are considered together, the demand index shows a strong interest in our products. On the legislative front, the industry saw two encouraging developments: the defunding of a misguided livestock procurement rule proposed by USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration and the expiration of the ethanol tax credits and import tariffs. Ethanol will continue to challenge us in the form of pressure on grain supplies from the Renewable Fuel Standard and as the US Environmental Protection Agency moves toward permitting E15 in the marketplace.   In the face of attacks from those who seek to dismantle our businesses, we will continue our efforts to engage with and educate consumers through social media through our MeatUp and MythCrushers campaigns, and other public relations efforts.  These are just a few of AMI’s priorities for 2012. We look forward to continuing our work together to ensure that the US meat and poultry supply remains the safest, most abundant and most efficient in the world. We look forward to seeing you on the show floor. Best Regards,

J. Patrick Boyle AMI president

Larry Odom AMI chairman of the board

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Meat&Poultry - March 2012

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