| US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Concludes Third General Assembly Meeting KRVN Radio | July 12, 2017 A group of 130 representatives across the beef value chain gathered in Denver for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) General Assembly Meeting July 11 – 12. This meeting allowed USRSB the opportunity to share accomplishments from the past year and the direction of efforts moving forward. Sessions were held to update attendees on the progress of working groups, which included the Indicator Working Group's efforts to finalize the beef sustainability metrics. The fourth iteration of the metric report was recently distributed to USRSB membership for review. Additionally, the Engagement, Measurement and Progress Working Group is developing Sustainability Assessment Guides — tools for the beef supply chain to use to self–assess their sustainability efforts. Other meeting highlights focused on findings and updates in beef sustainability research and beef consumer segmentation market research. McDonald's Signs Deal to Drive Down Carbon Footprint of European Fleet James Henderson, Digital Supply Chain | June 21, 2017 HAVI and Scania have agreed a partnership with McDonald's to drive down the carbon footprint of the restaurant's transport operations across several countries in Europe. The intention is to significantly reduce diesel powered vehicles and shift approximately 70 percent of HAVI's total truck fleet to alternative fuels such as gas and hybrid models, by 2021. The collaboration will initially focus on Europe while similar approaches are also being explored for Asia. The CO2 emissions in deliveries by HAVI to McDonald's restaurants utilizing Scania's next generation trucks and operating solutions will be continuously monitored in real time, bringing existing fleet connectivity to the next level. Italian Meat Processor Ups Sustainability Via Watertight Deal Oscar Rousseau, Global Meat News | July 13, 2017 Italian business Inalca SpA claims to have cut water and energy use at its meat plant in Lazio in a bid to address a challenge facing many meat processors: reducing the impact of climate change. Inalca collaborated with US–based Nalco Holding Company to implement four water management projects that saved the business €65,000 in combined water and energy costs at its canned meat factory in the city of Rieti, central Italy. Its factory can produce around 36,000 tonnes of canned meat per year, but wanted to do so in a way that was as environmentally friendly as possible – hence why it sought the help of Nalco Water. "Inalca had several key business drivers for this project, with safety and food quality being the top priorities," said Alberto Serafini, vice–president and market leader of Europe South for Nalco parent firm Ecolab. "We were charged with implementing solutions to reduce site water and energy consumption, reduce total costs of operation and improve site process operations." CCA Loses CEO After Six Months Jon Condon, Beef Central | July 10, 2017 Cattle Council of Australia announced on Friday afternoon that chief executive officer Duncan Bremner has tendered his resignation. Mr Bremner only started in the role in January. "I have come to the conclusion that I am not the right person to lead the CCA in its current form through the significant reforms the organisation must undertake," Mr Bremner said in a brief statement issued by CCA. "The Australian cattle industry is my passion, and it has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to lead the peak industry council for the sector," he said. Alternative Protein Understudy Sally Rae, Otago Daily Times | July 10, 2017 Beef and Lamb New Zealand is on a mission to "distinguish hype from reality" in the alternative protein space. The organisation is leading a project to assess potential red meat sector responses to alternative protein advances and is expected to identify project partners by the end of the month. In a statement, chief executive Sam McIvor said the organisation wanted to better understand the shifts in food and food production technology. That included identifying the threats and opportunities for the sector and how to address them, he said. "We want to distinguish hype from reality and have an objective view on what's happening in the alternative protein space. "That will mean better understanding the technologies, business models and how quickly advancements are being made that could impact the red meat sector." The current view from commentators was that alternative protein was being positioned as a premium product today but that could change tomorrow. Marfrig Reaffirms Its Public Commitment to The Amazon Biome WebWire (press release) | July 19, 2017 Marfrig Global Foods, a leading global protein producer, has reaffirmed its Public Commitment to the Amazon Biome. The initiative is a way to continue upholding its Public Commitment on Amazon Cattle Ranching, through which the company undertook, since 2009, together with Greenpeace, not to purchase any animals originating from deforested or conservation areas or from indigenous lands. Marfrig laments the exit by Greenpeace from the Public Commitment on Cattle Ranching, given its firm belief in the extreme importance of maintaining good sustainability practices and strengthening efforts to combat deforestation in the Amazon Biome, violence against indigenous peoples and the use of field labor in conditions analogous to slavery. | |