The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) bestowed honors for public service and service to the meat industry, as well as honoring packers’ and processors’ worker-safety and environmental accomplishments, at its Annual Awards Ceremony and Luncheon. The event took place during the 2019 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

“The Meat Institute’s annual awards recognize outstanding achievements among the people and companies that provide us with a safe, nutritious and plentiful meat supply every day,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “This year we honor Meat Institute members and individuals who have given decades of distinguished service, and companies that are deeply dedicated to protecting their workers and the environment.”

Barry Carpenter, the Meat Institute’s former president and CEO, received the Richard E. Lyng Award for Public Service for his long career in both the public and private sectors. Carpenter served at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 37 years before leading meat industry organizations beginning in 2007, with NAMI predecessor organizations. The award is named for the late Richard Lyng, former president of the American Meat Institute and Secretary of Agriculture under President Reagan.

David McDonald, president and chief operating officer of OSI Group, received the E. Floyd Forbes Award for his service as the Meat Institute’s chairman during its organizational merger and the Meat Institute’s inaugural year of 2015. The award is named for E. Floyd Forbes, who in 1946, guided the formation of the Western States Meat Packers Association, which later became the National Meat Association, a predecessor organization to NAMI.

Multivac was honored as Supplier of the Year for technologies to help support consistent food safety practices. Shane MacKenzie, executive vice president of operations for Superior Farms, received the Industry Advancement Award for technological advancements in lamb processing and his in-depth knowledge of the lamb industry. Doug Sutton, vice president of research and development for Smithfield Foods, received the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education’s Scientific Achievement Award for pioneering process improvements and new product formulations that meet and exceed consumers’ expectations.

The Meat Institute also presented Worker Safety Awards to 95 establishments for achieving high levels of safety performance and reductions in occupational injuries and illnesses.

Environmental Achievement Awards were presented to plants that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing innovative plant upgrades or environmental programs. The winner for Environmental Technology, Outreach and Training was Smithfield Foods in Salt Lake City, Utah. The winner for Pollution Prevention was JBS USA’s Hyrum Beef in Hyrum, Utah. The winner for Resource Conservation was JBS USA’s Omaha Beef in Omaha, Nebraska and the winner for Social and Economic Sustainability was Smithfield Foods in Monmouth, Illinois.

Environmental Recognition Awards, which recognize environmental tools that address specific plant issues, were presented to 146 establishments nationwide.

The 2019 IPPE is a collaboration of three shows — International Feed Expo, International Meat Expo and the International Poultry Expo — representing the entire chain of protein production and processing. The event is sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association, North American Meat Institute and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The show brings together more than 30,000 attendees from over 120 countries. More information about IPPE is available at http://www.ippexpo.org/.

Source: NAMI