Candidate Information
Nominees For Director (to serve a two-year term – the candidate with the highest vote count will also serve as the chair of the 2010 Reciprocal Meat Conference)
Aubrey L. Schroeder
Executive Technical Advisor, Elanco Animal Health
Greenfield, Indiana
AMSA Activities
Value Based Marketing Committee, 1990-91; Mechanism Regulating Myogenesis, 1993-94; Muscle Growth Biology, 1995-96; Meat Industry Research Planning Committee, 2001-2004; Chairman – Meat Industry Research Conference – 2004; Meat Industry Research Planning Committee, 2006-2008; Nominations Committee, 2006-2009; Meats Research Award Committee, 1997-1998
Based on your experience with AMSA and your knowledge of the current state of meat science and the meat industry, what do you believe is the biggest challenge facing this association?
The future of the meat industry continues to be under attack for many different fronts. Today’s consumer perceptions about meat and food have become much more politically sensitive, sensationalized and volatile that at any time. Scientists typically are research data oriented, and they are not adequately trained to counter the emotional or sensationalized attacks that question the safety of consuming meat in the public forum.
All meat scientists need to be willing to be trained to defend the production of livestock for meat production and the consumption of meat products as a part of a health diet in order to maintain the future viability of our industry.
As the scientific association representing Meat Science and the Meat Industry, AMSA must continue to partner with companies, other associations and individuals in efforts to defend the industry and expand the awareness by the retail sector, food service sector, public policy influencers and regulatory policy makers of AMSA as a resource for correct, scientifically based information.
As internationals markets grow and globalization continues the AMSA should strengthen efforts to expand its reach and relationships with other food or trade associations dealing with global meat / food trade to be the “go to” organization providing unbiased scientific data that can be accessed by other food industry partners to promote proper procedures for meat handling and extol the safety of meat as the protein source of choice for a growing world population.
As a potential AMSA officer what would be the most important thing for the next Board of Directors to do?
Communication with members and potential users of the information supplied by AMSA is critical.
We must continue to maintain the scientific standards, integrity and focus of the organization BUT also realize that financial resources are usually limited.
In order to remain a viable association, efforts need to continue in broadening the member base and involvement of not only University scientists, and meat production companies (and individuals) but other individuals and companies that are a part of the livestock industry and allied industries.
Since information (many times false information) travels via the Internet at lightning speed, AMSA led by the Board of Directors must continue to reach out to other associations involved in livestock, food and meat production with a willingness to pool resources and knowledge in order to confront the continual challenges to the livestock and meat industry.