David Meeker, Ph.D.

Title

Senior Vice President of Scientific Services

Company

North American Rendering Association

Presentation description:

Rendering industry’s research and initiatives to supply high-quality pet food ingredients — Meeker presents the rendering industry’s research and initiatives to supply high-quality pet food ingredients. The rendering industry collects and safely processes approximately 60 billion pounds of animal byproducts each year in the United States. Rendering plants process the byproducts from food animal production into high quality ingredients well-suited for dog and cat diets. While rendered pet food ingredients enjoy a dominant position as protein and energy ingredients for pets, this advantage is not guaranteed into the future. The rendering industry has embarked on research programs and partnerships with pet food interests to make rendered ingredients to better fit the needs of pet food customers.

Experience:

Meeker is senior vice president of scientific services for the North American Renderers Association (NARA). He serves as the scientific/technical advisor to the North American rendering industry on science, animal disease and feed safety issues. He is also research sirector for the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation. Meeker previously served in scientific and management positions at the National Turkey Federation and National Pork Producers Council, was director of the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources at the National Academy of Sciences and was an associate professor at Ohio State University. Over the past three decades, he has been an adviser to numerous governmental, professional and business organizations in the U.S. and internationally. He is past president of the U.S. Animal Health Association, a member of the scientific advisory panel of the World Renderers Organization (WRO) and a former member of the USDA Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health. Meeker received his bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D. and MBA degrees from Iowa State University.