World Grain - February 2019 - 41

are important to human health. That was reinforced by
the Veterinarian Feed Directive that we helped write.
It's been very successfully implemented and is moving
ahead. As a result of that, antibiotic use in U.S. animal
agriculture declined 22% from 1917 and 33% in what's
considered human medically important antibiotics.
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Directive but also the industry's focus on the use of antibiotics and the judicious use of those.
Leah Wilkinson (vice-president of public policy and
education for the AFIA) is participating in the U.S. delegation to the Codex Task Force on antimicrobial resistance. She's had an opportunity to travel to South Korea
twice already. That task force is probably going to be
another two years in the process. We're there to make
sure that the end results are practical guidance for the industry but also that there is a harmonization at the global
level, and hopefully those recommendations are the best
recommendations. They are going to include tracking
both the use and also the resistance of antimicrobials.
That will be the longer-term portion of this and is work
that will go on for quite a few years.
WG: What are some additional issues your successor will have to address in the future?
Newman: Our board, executive committee and staff
all had input into what they felt were the most critical areas of focus for our industry going forward. On
top of that list is international trade; that goes along
with our industry being a much more global industry.
It's becoming increasingly important, as you see all
the trade issues we are dealing with today, with tariffs,
trade barriers, etc. We are in a process of expanding our
resources in that area and working on addressing trade
issues but also opening up new markets and providing
input on the negotiations of new trade agreements.
One I already mentioned that is new for us, but certainly of great interest to members is the whole area of
education and messaging to consumers and policymakers about our industry. That's going to remain right up
there. Legislative and regulatory impact on our industry will always be on the top of the list.
We are going through industry consolidation; the inGXVWU\LVFKDQJLQJ7KDWFRQVROLGDWLRQDQGSUR¿WDELOLW\
of the industry in different segments will be a continued focus. More appropriately, how are those changes
impacting the industry and how do we as an association
need to change and adapt?
The other one is the approval of new technologies,
because that is what drives our industry forward. The
continuous improvement that we bring is primarily
through new technology, so that's really critical to our
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ability to help the broader animal protein industry.
One thing that certainly will be carrying forward,
and we'll see more of, is biosecurity and our role in
protecting the animal agriculture industry from the
threat of spreading animal diseases internationally and
domestically. That means how do we make sure the
feed industry is not a vector of transmitting these diseases to different places through ingredients, through
production plants, transportation, or personnel going
from farm to farm. That's going to be a continuous priority and focus.
WG: Any advice you would give to the AFIA's next
leader? To the industry overall?
Newman: I could boil it down to a couple of things.
Keep the members engaged. I think that was one of the
single biggest changes we made in 2004 and 2005. At
the same time, listening to them because they will share
what's changing in their businesses, and what changes the
industry needs to adapt to both domestically and globally.
That's just a tremendous source of information for making
sure the AFIA is going in the right direction.
We're part of a much bigger industry. We're not just
part of the agriculture industry, we're not just part of animal protein production; we're part of the food industry.
That really broadens not only how we impact an industry
but how we're impacted by it. I think the new person
coming in here, it really needs to be a catalyst for bringing more collaboration within the food and agriculture
chain and making sure we stay close to the customer in
that process.
WG: What are your plans for retirement?
Newman: I'm looking forward to doing more of the
things I didn't have time to do because I was committed to my career. That starts with spending more time
with my family. I have two young grandchildren, so I
want to spend time with them. I'd like to do some volunteering and giving back, which I haven't been able
to do as much of. I want to relax and even do a little bit
PRUHJRO¿QJ
I am retiring; I'm not planning to go back to work
VRPHZKHUHHOVH:LWKWKDWVDLG,ZRXOGOLNHWR¿QGVRPH
way to stay involved with the industry in some manner,
whether it's serving on a board for a company within the
industry, just something to keep myself in contact with
the industry. I've spent 48 years here, so it would be hard
to just totally walk away; I love the industry too much
to do that.
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World Grain - February 2019

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