BOD Meeting | Opportunities Are In Challenges, USMEF Members Learn At Opening...

BOD Meeting

Opportunities Are In Challenges, USMEF Members Learn At Opening Session

Demonstrating patience, foresight and cultural sensitivity can reap big rewards in the global marketplace, U.S. red meat industry representatives learned Wednesday in the opening session of the USMEF Board of Directors meeting in La Jolla, Calif.

“Our greatest opportunities are in the challenges, especially in looking at them as a basis for change,” USMEF President and CEO Phil Seng said. “The more we can listen to each market and understand its dynamics, the better we are able to provide competitive products that make consumers smile.”

USMEF Chair Dennis Erpelding opened the meeting stressing that strength comes from the ability for individual sectors and companies to collaborate in efforts to fortify U.S. red meat exports. Erpelding said concentrating on market access, expansion and international standards are keys for USMEF as it heads into the future.

Additionally, untapped market potential revolves around differentiating U.S. meat products by identifying problems, needs and advantages, according to business futurist Bob Treadway, who delivered the keynote address. Treadway stressed that population growth and increased purchasing power will continue to be future factors in many Asia markets, particularly China.

A key is to figure out how to make China an economic ally rather than a threat, as currently perceived, said USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Associate Administrator Constance Jackson. Jackson noted USDA is pushing for increased access for U.S. beef products in China, Japan and South Korea, citing the significance of Tuesday’s OIE classification of the United States as a “controlled risk” country in regard to BSE. Jackson also said recent trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Panama and South Korea are proactive efforts to increase access for U.S. agricultural products.

Becoming proactive to issues instead of reactive in efforts to develop a plan to generate the best possible return on investment in USMEF to key stakeholders, Dan Halstrom, co-chair of the Strategic Plan Task Force reported. The task force is made up of representatives from major stakeholders in U.S. red meat exports.

“If we are going to compete in the global marketplace, we are going to have to be flexible and adapt to change,” Halstrom said. “We need to establish roles and responsibilities in efforts to create a consensus among the industry that in turn can be communicated to negotiators involved in developing trade policies.”

BOD Meeting

Opportunities Are In Challenges, USMEF Members Learn At Opening Session

Demonstrating patience, foresight and cultural sensitivity can reap big rewards in the global marketplace, U.S. red meat industry representatives learned Wednesday in the opening session of the USMEF Board of Directors meeting in La Jolla, Calif.

“Our greatest opportunities are in the challenges, especially in looking at them as a basis for change,” USMEF President and CEO Phil Seng said. “The more we can listen to each market and understand its dynamics, the better we are able to provide competitive products that make consumers smile.”

USMEF Chair Dennis Erpelding opened the meeting stressing that strength comes from the ability for individual sectors and companies to collaborate in efforts to fortify U.S. red meat exports. Erpelding said concentrating on market access, expansion and international standards are keys for USMEF as it heads into the future.

Additionally, untapped market potential revolves around differentiating U.S. meat products by identifying problems, needs and advantages, according to business futurist Bob Treadway, who delivered the keynote address. Treadway stressed that population growth and increased purchasing power will continue to be future factors in many Asia markets, particularly China.

A key is to figure out how to make China an economic ally rather than a threat, as currently perceived, said USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Associate Administrator Constance Jackson. Jackson noted USDA is pushing for increased access for U.S. beef products in China, Japan and South Korea, citing the significance of Tuesday’s OIE classification of the United States as a “controlled risk” country in regard to BSE. Jackson also said recent trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Panama and South Korea are proactive efforts to increase access for U.S. agricultural products.

Becoming proactive to issues instead of reactive in efforts to develop a plan to generate the best possible return on investment in USMEF to key stakeholders, Dan Halstrom, co-chair of the Strategic Plan Task Force reported. The task force is made up of representatives from major stakeholders in U.S. red meat exports.

“If we are going to compete in the global marketplace, we are going to have to be flexible and adapt to change,” Halstrom said. “We need to establish roles and responsibilities in efforts to create a consensus among the industry that in turn can be communicated to negotiators involved in developing trade policies.”