President's and Director of Technical Services Report
2002/2003

Dr. Gary G. Pearl

The 2002/2003 FPRF fiscal year can be summarized within the activities of publishing, presenting, planning, proposal, solicitation, project monitoring and playing defense.

The foundation experienced a very favorable financial year despite the failure of 15 members to respond to the annual plea for membership contribution. Nearly all-contributing members increased their support. Several members elevated their membership from associate to full and four new members were acquired. The research project assignments were reduced compared to past years but the cost per trial has increased. Project proposal submittals continue to decline but similarly requested funds per proposal continue to increase. Currently there are nineteen projects in progress at various stages of completion. With the exception of project 02B-1, Dr. Peggy Hseih: Florida State University all projects should be completed during the ¾ fiscal year. The Research Committee was provided with a total of thirteen proposals to evaluate during the past year.

Several planning sessions were held to address specific issues and opportunities associated with nutritional and feed ingredient usage. A project was completed to identify specific opportunities and priority uses for non-feed/non food alternative new use applications. This was followed by an industry/membership workshop to address the same subject. Summaries from both of these meetings have been made available to the membership. Three separate surveys were supplied to the membership during the year to solicit inputs and guidance as to the research wants and needs. Minimal participation and limited inputs were provided.

Four academic seminars/symposia were sponsored and program assistance given on behalf of FPRF for the Minnesota Nutrition Conference, University of Georgia Biofuels Seminar, The Midwest Swine Seminar and the Energy Symposium at the Animal Science Annual Meeting. In addition two FPRF “Issues and Opportunities Seminar” were again provided for the membership. These continue to receive high marks and value added benefit to the membership.

Responses on behalf of the Foundation were prepared and provided for the FDA-ANPR, APHIS and Bioenergy requests for comments. In addition five Render articles, eleven Technical Services Bulletins, five Director’s Digests, two text book chapters and some 25 manuscripts to accompany presentations were authored. The month of March 2003 was again spent in China participating in a series of “Swine Production, Nutrition and Disease” schools that were attended by more than 800 producers, feed company and feed ingredient supplier personnel. These meetings and travel were sponsored by Purdue University and Winrock International. During the travels the three-aquaculture projects in progress in Chinese research laboratories were visited and consulted. In July, I participated in the Australian Renderers Association Seminar and held meetings with officers and staff of the Meat and Livestock Australia and World Renderers Association.

A proposal has been received from Clemson University in response to the formation of an “Animal Co-Products Research Center”. University staff presented and led discussion at the May 2003 meeting. A Steering Committee composed of Don Davis, Ross Hamilton, Kevin Kuhni, John Dupps Jr., J.J. Smith, André Couture, and Gary Pearl was formed. This group held a follow-up meeting on the Clemson University campus in August 2003. A separate report and discussion will address this subject and activities.

Biodiesel priorities comprised the defense of feedstock neutrality, generation of data to promote a “level playing field” and to deflate myths and untruths. Though FPRF has not released funding for the NBB Cooperative CARB study due to the failure of being assured of feedstock neutrality for the test fuel, considerable documentation has been acquired referencing specifications and biosecurity of animal fats and recycled cooking oil/restaurant grease derived biodiesel. A FPRF Biodiesel Technical Advisory Board has been developed to assist in the assembly and interpretation of data and issues. Addressing questions of: “Will increased biodiesel production from animal fat increase transmissible disease particularly mad cow disease or other bacteria which may be present in animal fats or yellow grease?”, “What about acrylamides, dioxins, nitrosamines, heavy metals, trans fatty acids, residual cleaning compounds which may be in yellow grease?”, “Can prions withstand the biodiesel production process?” and as the list goes on it can be very trying and frustrating.

The virgin versus non-virgin defamation are frequent within presentations, regulatory and legislative discussions and of particular significance when added to specifications and bid sheets which has been common including those of the US military. An energy bill has not at this writing been finalized. To date action has not been very productive and several biodiesel issues are not getting a very favorable treatment at this point. Feedstock neutrality and the efforts to keep tax incentives based on biodiesel and not biodiesel from specific feedstocks have received the highest priority from Tom Cook and the legislative support framework. FPRF pledges to support these efforts in anyway possible. FPRF has maintained Associate Membership in the National Biodiesel Board.

This year completes a decade as my Presidency of FPRF. A tenure that has involved one quarter of the organizations existence. It has been a most rewarding experience and I continue to be proud to be associated with the industry and a research organization that commands the highest respect. There are however many vibrations of challenge and change. Many of the previous comments in this report reference those. As was discussed in my report to this board in May, the future may be catching up with us if we don’t target the challenges and be receptive to change. During my tenure, I have promoted and encouraged strategic planning. By encouragement Dennis Griffin then Chairman and David Evans, Vice Chairman of FPRF agreed that the foundation would organize the “North American Renderers Strategic Planning Meeting”. It was held April 27, 1994 at the O’Hare Hyatt in Rosemont Illinois. I suggest it is time for another!

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