The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) is joining USDA’s Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation launched by the Biden administration at the UN Food Systems Summit on Sept. 23.
“High-quality animal protein is at the center of healthy diets, and our commitments to economic, social, and environmental sustainability also place us at the center of solutions for a healthy future,” said Julie Anna Potts, CEO of the Meat Institute.
USDA said this global, multi-sector coalition will accelerate the transition to more sustainable food systems through agricultural productivity growth that optimizes the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability.
Protein PACT
The Meat Institute also announced on Sept. 23 that more than 96% of comments received during a public consultation launched back in July supported its draft sustainability framework and the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow, which was submitted to the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS) commitment hub.
“We are proud to join the U.S.-led coalition on sustainable agricultural productivity and to feature the Protein PACT in UN Food Systems Summit outcomes as the first initiative of its kind to unite farmers and processors in a common vision for transparent communication, continuous improvement, and ambitious commitments to ensure the sustainability of the beef, pork, poultry, and dairy people around the world rely on every day,” Potts said.
Progress Verification
The Meat Institute said it expects to announce ambitious, data-driven targets in November to publicly verify progress on the 100 metrics in its sustainability framework, which aims to:
• Optimize contributions to healthy land, air, and water
• Be the leading source of high-quality protein in balanced diets
• Provide the most humane care and raise healthy animals
• Produce safe products without exception
• Support a diverse workforce and ensure safe workplaces
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