animal industry foundation mission

National Issues Relating to Animal Welfare National Institute for Animal Agriculture St. Paul, MN April 6, 2005 Kay Johnson, Executive Vice President A national umbrella organization through which all stakeholders in animal agriculture and the food industry can work together to develop programs and messages to reach consumers to enhance their understanding and appreciation for food animal production. Alliance Mission Communicate the important role of modern animal agriculture to our nation’s economy, productivity, vitality, security and that animal well-being is central to producing safe, high-quality, affordable food and other products essential to our daily lives Alliance Board of Directors Executive Committee Don Dalton, Chair U.S. Poultry & Egg Assn. Don Butler, Chair-Elect Murphy-Brown, LLC Terry Stokes Nat’l Cattlemen's Beef Assn. Richard Lobb National Chicken Council Dennis Erpelding Elanco Animal Health David A. Bossman American Feed Industry Assn. Paul Sundberg D.V.M., M.S., National Pork Board Alice Johnson, Ph. D. National Turkey Federation Archie Schaffer III Tyson Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Terry Prince, Ph.D. North American Nutrition Cos. Brett Whitehead Intervet, Inc. Robert Stallman American Farm Bureau Federation Peter Orwick American Sheep Industry Assn. Paul Slayton American Veal Association Cliff Becker Vance Publishing Steve Merriam Kent Feeds, Inc. Doug Hard , Ph.D. Renessen LLC Keith Canfield PIC USA Dan Harper The Duckling Council Todd Hall Cargill Animal Nutrition Christie Chavis Monsanto Company Marvin Sussman Prince Agri Products, Inc. John Adams National Milk Producers Federation Jeff Hill Premium Standard Farms Mike Engler, Ph.D. Cactus Feeders Inc. Al Pope United Egg Producers Challenges to Animal Agriculture & Our Food Chain Partners Why Should We Be Concerned? Challenges To Animal Agriculture Growing Number of Anti-Animal Use Activist Campaigns with Deep Pockets • Animal Rights Funding – Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Annually • Major Lobbying to Legislate/Regulate Farm Animal Production Practices - HSUS merger with Fund for Animals - largest & richest animal rights organization in country - Humane PAC – coordinated funding to support candidates - Farm Sanctuary hires national legislative campaign director - Continued campaigns to ban production practices, force farms to meet environmental regulations of factories, efforts to ban CAFOs as well as new and/or expanding farm operations ELECTION 2002 Pigs win constitutional protection National animal-rights groups wage 'big money' campaign in Florida November 6, 2002 By Diana Lynne © 2002 WorldNetDaily.com Animal rights groups sue state, (NJ) branding farm rules inhumane - New Jersey Star-Ledger July 21, 2004 2004 State Legislative Session: 47 States With 361 Topics Of Legislation on Animals & Animal Welfare Challenges To Animal Agriculture Stepping Up Legal Action & Increase in Animal Law Programs • Advances in ABA – ABA forms Animal Law Committee under the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Session – This “exciting new committee” will have some of the most well-known experts in this emerging field leading the committee, so it will become the source for animal law issues on a national level. - American Bar Association • HSUS Launches Litigation Section to include 6 Full Time Lawyers – “…the HSUS is going on the offensive.” Jonathan Lovvorn, the head of the new animal protection litigation section, “will be on the front lines, taking the group’s fight to the courts.” In addition to litigating cases, including a focus on farm animal welfare, it will recruit & train recent law school graduates & teach them how to litigate animal protection cases. - National Journal, Dec 10, 2004 Challenges To Animal Agriculture Campaigns for Legal Rights for Animals • Harvard Professor Steven Wise – “Rattling the Cage” • Animal Guardian Initiatives – replaces “owner” and could be deemed to be the “appointed to speak for the voiceless” • Initiatives to Classify Livestock as Pets – now in limited situations, but is this the camel’s nose under the tent? Challenges To Animal Agriculture Stock Purchase of Ag Related & Food Companies Leading to Shareholder Resolutions PETA BUYS STOCK IN PILGRIM’S PRIDE "Shareholder resolutions give us one more weapon in our battle to get KFC…” October 2003 PETA FILED A SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL WITH KFC PARENT COMPANY YUM! BRANDS December 2003 PETA AND DFA CALL ON HORMEL… Groups Make Plea for New AnimalWelfare Standards at Annual Meeting January 26, 2004 Challenges To Animal Agriculture Challenges to Industry Animal Care Programs On June 11, 2003, COK filed petitions with the Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging that the “Animal Care Certified” logo on egg cartons is false advertising and should be prohibited. Challenges To Animal Agriculture On-Farm Animal Welfare Audit Programs – Changing Customer-Supplier Relationships “Consumer Driven Customers Are Dictating Animal Handling Trends” - Meat & Poultry Magazine, January 2005 Vast Number of Laws & Regulations Imposed by Governments Pertaining to Animal Care, Environment & Other Production Practices International Initiatives to Establish Animal Welfare Guidelines – OIE Challenges To Animal Agriculture AVMA’s New Emphasis on Animal Welfare New Animal Welfare Division and Activist Pressure on Policies Food Safety & Security Threats/Campaigns Consumer Scare Campaigns - Food Safety & Nutrition/Health Antibiotic Resistance – now from animal waste, in the air, water & ground surfaces Intentional Terrorist Acts or Threats to Create Consumer Panic Portrayal of Modern Animal Production Practices As Evil – “Factory Farms” Turkey Factory Farm Hen Factory Farm September 2003 The Chicken Factory Farm The Meatrix is a product of the first-ever Free Range Flash Activism Grant. Its creator, GRACE (Global Resource Action Center for the Environment) works to end the “destructive and dangerous practices of factory farming” and to promote sustainable agriculture. “School Teachers Offered Cash Reward to Use Meatrix in the Classroom” - NCBA, January 19, 2005 GRACE requested State Depts. Education promote The Meatrix to teachers. Challenges To Animal Agriculture Undercover Tactics – Employment, Videos, Trespassing, Staged Cruelty, Theft of Animals “Activists who liberated 2 pigs may be charged” - The Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT January 16, 2003 ***** “The ALF liberated 115 chickens…” until all are free... The Animal Liberation Front Campaigns Targeting Individuals/Related Companies Challenges To Animal Agriculture Increased Number & Intensity of Animal Rights & Environmental Terrorism ALF, ELF, SHAC & other domestic terrorists together have committed more than 1,100 criminal acts in the United States since 1976, resulting in damages in excess of $110 million. - FBI Domestic Terrorism Section, June 2004 “Revealed: animal rights extremists set up combat skills training camp in Britain Activists from around the world are coming to this country to prepare themselves for battle in what they call 'the animal liberation war'.” - Report by Sophie Goodchild and Steve Bloomfield 25 July 2004 In UK, major companies warned Prime Minister Tony Blair they would cease further investment in the UK unless action was taken to curb the militant extremists. Challenges To Animal Agriculture Recognizing Public Disconnect from Modern Farms & Food Production Today Changing Industry Attitudes re: Transparency and Providing Public Evidence of Industry Commitment to Animal Welfare Individual Efforts to Counter These Challenges & Power Struggles Among Stakeholders How Do We Unify Producers, Processors, Food Retail, Animal Science & Vet Med to Become a Team & Learn to Play Offense WHAT CAN YOU DO? What Can You Do? 1. Ensure Your House is in Order a) Implement Industry-Developed Animal Care Guidelines & Establish Company Policies on Animal Care b) Implement Training Programs for All Employees/Managers Responsible for Animal Care c) Establish or Utilize a Third Party Certification System to Provide Customers with Assurances & to Prepare for Audit 2. Educate Employees About Company Services & Policies – Remember, employees are company representatives & spokespeople a) Conduct in-service meetings on what the company does b) Provide information on issues/concerns that may surface c) Let it be known the company has an open-door policy What Can You Do? 4. Strengthen Communications with Customers Ensure They Know You and Know Your Standards for Animal Care, as well as Food Safety 5. Become Involved in Public Policy Development a) Talk to Your Legislators So They Understand Your Business b) Get Active in Supporting/Killing Legislative Initiatives 6. Create a Positive Public Image in Your Community a) Strengthen Community Involvement and Contributions b) Sponsor or Support Local Events, Teams, Schools, Etc. c) Promote positive actions to improve local community, environment 7. Seize Opportunities to Talk about What You Do a) Discuss Issues in Terms of What’s Important to Consumers b) Talk about Science in Consumer Friendly Terms c) Become Media Trained What Can You Do? 8. Establish a Security Plan /Prevention Plan for Terrorism a) Maintain Basic Security –access to facility, lock doors & file cabinets, backup computers, post No Trespassing signs, etc. b) Establish Check-in Procedures for Visitors & Escort Them c) Establish Procedures for Accepting & Opening Mail/Packages d) Inform Managers in Vulnerable Areas that Infiltration is Possible e) Train Employees on Anti-terrorism Strategies – workshops offered 9. Develop Communications Plan for Crisis Management a) Evaluate Requests for Information - check references b) Have One Appointed Company Spokesperson c) Establish a Plan on How to Handle Disruptive/Illegal Situations 10. Make Local Authorities Aware - Report All Illegal Activities Establish a multi-discipline team network in your community What Can You Do? 11. Get Involved & Become Active a) Join existing national alliances, coalitions, organizations: AAA, NIAA, others b) Join or Form State coalitions to actively promote agriculture and counter the anti-groups – OH, NY, IL, IN, NE, PA, IA WHAT IS THE ANIMAL AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE DOING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL? CURRENT ALLIANCE PROGRAMS • Monitor Public Opinion • • Monitor Activist Initiatives, Coordinate Industry Action Monitor International Actions on Animal & Production Issues – Participate in OIE Discussions & Coordinate Industry Participation – Maintain International relationships & serve as resource on animal well-being issues & U.S. policies & campaigns Ongoing Communications to Retail & Restaurant Sectors on Industry Initiatives Ongoing Communications with USDA and State Governments Partnering with Vance Publishing to provide food chain programs and information distribution • Work to Strengthen Stakeholder Network – – – • Develop New Educational Materials – To answer questions about modern farming & animal food production, serve as Talking Points for industry to use CURRENT ALLIANCE PROGRAMS • Media Relations – – – – – Media Workshop on Animal Welfare Regular Communications Sent to Media, Articles to Trade Media Personal Phone Calls, Media Directories Yes to Documentary on Animal Issues, Yes to Media Calls Inclusion on Summit Program – Tips to Enhance Industry’s Media Experience • Fourth Annual Alliance Stakeholders Summit on Animal Welfare – March 21-23, 2005 Marriott Crystal City, Arlington, VA “Animal Welfare Initiatives, Needs, Regulation & Communication: Building on the Past, Preparing for the Future” • Emergency Strategy Summit of Key Industry Leaders – March 21, 2005 – How to Unify the Industry & Strategically Go on the Offensive CURRENT ALLIANCE PROGRAMS • – Strengthen Communications Efforts: An independent educational website hosting consumer oriented information • • • • • virtual tours of farms, scientifically referenced but consumer friendly articles about farming & ranching today, nutritional information, information on quality of life products we utilize from farm animals daily, links to the industry’s animal welfare guidelines – – – The Alliance Link, the Alliance’s new online monthly newsletter Alliance website updates - Members Only, Nutrition Corner, Educators Corner & Media Center Information & Action Alerts sent regularly to members on key issues & initiatives • • Provide assistance to members through issue management & media programs and training & public policy information Promote facility/animal/food security and anti-terrorism training www.animalagalliance.org www.animalagalliance.org