5th January 2023 – The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) today announces its 2023 Executive Committee.
The newly elected committee is comprised of beef producers, beef supply chain stakeholders and beef industry groups from across the world. There is representation from Brazil, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, and the United States. These leaders will collaborate on the organization’s work towards reducing the global warming impact of beef by 30 percent by 2030.
The seven-member 2023 Executive Committee includes industry leaders from the likes of McDonalds, Tri-L Ranch, Tyson Foods, and Zoetis.
Since 2012, GRSB has been working to advance sustainable beef through leadership, science, and multi-stakeholder engagement. Leaders are elected from a membership that represents the full value chain, including beef producers and producer organizations, allied services and industries, processors, retail, civil societies, and others who aim to continuously improve beef sustainability around the world.
In the last year, GRSB has grown its membership to over 100 members with new partners including Datamars, Acceligen and Woolworths. In November, the organization hosted its global conference in Denver – a four-day event that brought together a global network of likeminded individuals with an interest in powering a future of beef sustainability. This year’s COP27 saw several members of GRSB’s leadership team join panels to discuss how GRSB and its members aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the beef supply chain.
More than 500 companies and producer organizations are engaged in the work of GRSB and its members, including regionally focused beef sustainability roundtables and initiatives in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Southern Africa, the United States, and other countries around the world.
The new committee came into effect on January 1st, 2023. For more information about GRSB visit https://grsbeef.org
About the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is a worldwide network of the people and organizations powering progress in sustainable beef. Across its global roundtable and 12 regional roundtables, GRSB has over 500 stakeholder members, working in 24 different countries. Collectively, its members are responsible for more than two thirds of cross-border beef trade.
GRSB powers progress in sustainable beef by setting ambitious goals around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving land use and animal welfare. To help achieve these goals, GRSB champions best practice, facilitates the exchange of knowledge and fosters a collaborative approach.
Visit www.grsbeef.org and @grsbeef on social media.
President – Mr. Ian McConnel (Tyson Foods). Ian serves as Director of Sustainability for Tyson Foods International Business Unit. Before his current position Ian served as the Global Beef Lead for World Wildlife Fund (WWF) where he led the global WWF networks approach to creating and communicating a more sustainable global beef industry. Facilitating global dialogue, collaborating across WWF offices, external stakeholders and industry partners Ian is successfully developing a cohesive and effective global effort to create a beef industry that is socially, economically, and environmentally responsible and is able to communicate this message to consumers. Ian has been voted in as President again for 2023 following a successful 2022 tenure, and previously served as the GRSB Vice President in 2021, and as GRSB Secretary-Treasurer in 2019 and 2020.
Vice President – Mr. Bob Lowe (Tri-L Ranch, Ltd.) has been voted in for another term as Vice President. He is part of a long line of ranchers that came to Alberta, Canada in the late 1800s and continues that legacy with feedlot operations based in Nanton, Alberta and a cow-calf operation in Eriksdale, Manitoba. He is an outspoken advocate for sharing information about raising cattle, feedlots, and best management practices, and promotes the understanding of the stewardship and conservation that is inherent in sustainable beef production.
He currently serves as President of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and he was also Chair of Alberta Beef Producers (2015 to 2017) and a decade as a delegate, director, and a member of the executive. First elected as a director to the CCA in 2009, Lowe has served as chair of the CCA Environment Committee and Foreign Trade Committee. He is also a Council director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB).
Secretary-Treasurer– Justin Sherrard (Rabobank, Netherlands). Justin is the Global Strategist for Animal Protein in Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) group. He leads the bank’s global research, client engagement and profiling in the animal protein sector. His work is directed at challenging current thinking and advising companies on risks and opportunities from strategic issues on today’s and tomorrow’s CEO agendas. In 2023 Justin will begin his second term as a Member-at-Large on the GRSB Executive Committee.
Member-at-Large – Lucas McKelvie (McDonald’s Corporation, USA). Luke has been continually active within the GRSB for several years, including on the GRSB Communications Council and has been voted in for another two-year term on the Executive Committee. Luke serves as the Global Farmer Program Manager for McDonald’s Corporation. Prior to his current position Luke spent 8 years with the advertising and public relations firm of Osborn Barr where he served as Group Director of the Animal / Livestock Sector and then as a Vice President.
Member-at-Large – Ms. Jeannette Ferran Astorga (Zoetis) is currently beginning her second term as a Member-at-Large on the GRSB Executive Committee. Jeanette serves as Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, and Chief Sustainability Officer, as well as being serving President of the Zoetis Foundation. In these roles, Ms. Ferran Astorga is responsible for the company’s integrated and comprehensive approach to public policy, social responsibility, corporate reputation, and colleague and leadership communications and leads the sustainability and ESG disclosure strategy. Since joining Zoetis, Jeannette established Zoetis’ Sustainability goals and led Zoetis’ progress in the areas of Sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Among her many accomplishments at Zoetis thus far are the establishment of the Zoetis Foundation, the formation of our Driven to Care long-term Sustainability strategy and the publication of Zoetis’ first Sustainability report.
Member-at-Large – Luiza Bruscato (GTPS, Brasil) is the Executive Manager of the Brazilian Roundtable on Sustainable Livestock. She is responsible for Corporate Public Relations and conducting multistakeholder partnerships and networking through the articulation of the livestock production chain. In 2022 Luiza joined the IPOG as a lecturer for the Agribusiness Management MBA scheme, with her role covering sustainability, consumer trends and impacts on the production chain. She has been an active member within the organisation for several years, having been elected to the GRSB’s Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019.
Immediate Past President – Mr. Bob McCan (McFaddin Enterprises). After finishing his second term as President in 2020, Bob continues to support the Executive Committee as a non-official member. He oversees the cattle operations and recreational hunting and wildlife operations for his family’s company, McFaddin Enterprises, Ltd. in Victoria, Refugio, and Bee Counties, Texas. Using rotational grazing on native rangeland, the family strikes a balance that meets the needs of both livestock and wildlife, benefiting both. The ranches are stocked with Victoria cattle, a commercial cross-bred of three-fourths Hereford and one fourth Brahman with a uniform Hereford coloring.