Here’s a roundup of the latest pork industry headlines.
Slater Receives Honorary American FFA Degree
Diane Slater of Auxvasse, Missouri, received the Honorary American FFA Degree during the 2021 National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. This award honors people who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment.
As Director of Communications for the Missouri Pork Association, she drives programs supporting the next generation in agriculture leadership and opportunities for youth interested in agricultural production. Slater is instrumental in the continued success of Missouri’s FFA Pork Speaking Contest, Pork Ambassadors and the Youth Pork Institute, as well as other educational programs for pork exhibitors in Missouri and surrounding states.
“The National FFA organization was an important part of my introduction to opportunities in agriculture, and I attribute much of my success to the mentors I met during those years,” Slater said in a release. “I’m grateful to follow their example in supporting the next generation, and for Missouri pig farmers’ support of my involvement in these education programs. It’s an honor to share the stage at the 94th National FFA Convention with the next generation of ag leaders.”
She has invested countless hours over the past 17 years mentoring FFA members, evaluating supervised agricultural experience and proficiency award applications, and judging career development events. Slater’s mentorship of high school and college students has directly supported young professionals beginning ag leadership and communications careers.
Slater was a member of the North Callaway FFA Chapter in Kingdom City, Mo., from 1990-1997. She has served the Missouri Pork Association since 2004.
Directions and Aimpoint Research Unite
Directions, a top U.S. insights and analytics firm, and Aimpoint Research, a global strategic intelligence firm, have finalized an agreement under which Directions will acquire Aimpoint Research. Along with Directions’ SEEK division, this move brings three industry-leading brands together to significantly broaden the capabilities and services available to clients across multiple industries, including food, food service, agriculture, health and wellness, technology, financial services and consumer packaged goods.
“Adding Aimpoint’s management consulting and strategic intelligence capabilities to Directions’ diverse expertise and quantitative rigor, and SEEK’s ability to connect brands and humans through empathy creates a great opportunity for our clients,” Jim Lane, President and CEO of Directions Inc said in a release. “As a three-brand solution set, we now offer clients the advantage of receiving integrated insights across multiple aspects of their information needs from one firm.”
Driven by the core belief that the success of the agri-food system is essential to U.S. national security, Aimpoint Research empowers agri-food organizations and leaders with indispensable strategic insights through a unique blend of military intelligence techniques and market research. The firm’s team includes former military intelligence officers, agricultural experts and research professionals who work to help clients understand what’s really happening in the marketplace, what’s going to happen in the future and what to do to ensure success, the company said in a release.
As an independent division of Directions, Aimpoint Research will operate with the same mission and leadership, providing superior services such as the Executive Intelligence Network, Agri-Food WatchDesk, Wargaming, strategic planning support, and more.
Chr. Hansen Launches Climate Targets
Chr. Hansen’s Science Based Targets form the core of the company’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint towards 2030, according to a new release. Under its newly launched program; Think Climate. Naturally., the bioscience leader now sets out to decouple its climate impact from economic growth.
Chr. Hansen announced two science-based climate targets that will form the basis of the company’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint:
• 42% reduction of greenhouse gases across scopes 1 and 2 by 2030
Scopes 1 and 2 cover the direct emissions from Chr. Hansen’s own operations and the indirect emissions associated with its consumption of grid-supplied energy – a 1.5 degree aligned reduction pathway reflecting the ambition of the Paris Agreement. Emissions across scopes 1 and 2 make up 13% of Chr. Hansen’s total greenhouse gas emissions for the financial year 2020/21.
• 20% reduction of greenhouse gases from scope 3 by 2030
Scope 3 covers the indirect emissions associated with activities across the entire value chain, from the sourcing of raw materials to the transportation of products and employee commuting. Scope 3 makes up 87% of Chr. Hansen’s total emissions for the financial year 2020/21. In addition to our own program, future technological advancements and increasing climate commitment by our supply chain are vital factors for achieving the scope 3 target.
“Chr. Hansen is privileged to be seen as a sustainability enabler by our customers and partners, as our microbial solutions enable healthier living for humans, animals and plants – leaving a positive ‘handprint’ in society and on our planet. We have worked successfully with carbon intensity targets across our operations for many years, but the world is facing widespread and intensifying climate change. Taking climate action that is rooted in the latest scientific consensus is a natural step-up for Chr. Hansen and it is perfectly in line with our 2025 Strategy,” Mauricio Graber, CEO of Chr. Hansen, said in a release.
Hormel Foods Recognized for its Internship Program
Hormel Foods Corporation was ranked No. 84 on the 2022 ranking of 100 Best Internships by Vault. In addition, Hormel Foods made Vault’s 2022 Best Internships for Sales, Marketing & Communications list (coming in at No. 6), and the 2022 Best Internships for Engineering list (coming in at No. 9).
“We are honored to be recognized one again for our outstanding internship program,” Amy Sheehan, director of talent acquisition, human resources, Hormel Foods, said in a release. “We provide our interns with a best-in-class program that includes hands-on experience managing key company projects, networking sessions with senior leaders, weekly events with different divisions and much more.”
To compile the ranking, more than 11,000 current and former interns from more than 100 internship programs were surveyed this past summer. Respondents were asked to rate their internship experiences in six core areas: career development, compensation and benefits, diversity, full-time employment prospects, the interview process, and quality of life. The 100 Best Internships list reflects the highest-rated internship programs across the survey pool.
“We’re currently recruiting for interns to start with us over the summer of 2022 for our manufacturing facilities, sales offices and corporate locations,” Sheehan said. “Those who are interested and who want to make a difference in feeding families around the world can view our current openings and apply at hormelfoods.com/careers.”
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