Home > AMI Foundation > What is the AMI Foundation?
Research Priorities
The American
Meat Institute Foundation is a non-profit
research, education and information foundation
established by the American Meat Institute to
study ways the meat and poultry industry can
produce better, safer products and operate more
efficiently.
In 1944, the Institute established
the first AMI Foundation (AMIF), complete with
a commercial laboratory, in
Today AMIF provides research
funding to universities, private institutions,
non-profit organizations and other foundations
to conduct research on behalf of the industry.
AMIF disseminates research findings, knowledge
and best practices through briefings, workshops
and other industry communication efforts. The
Foundation relies on key networks of industry
experts to assist in these
efforts.
Priorities
AMIF priorities
focus on areas the industry deems most
critical. Among these are:
microbiological food safety, animal welfare,
hazard analysis critical control points
(HACCP), worker safety, nutrition and
environmental concerns. Several million
dollars in research grants have been awarded
for projects designed to study new technologies
for reducing foodborne pathogens and practical
improvements in plant
processes.
In 1999, AMIF
launched a multi-million dollar, multi-year
Food Safety Initiative with the goal of:
reducing foodborne illnesses from Listeria
monocytogenes (L.m.) and
E. coli O157:H7 in meat and poultry
products.
The AMI Board
of Directors voiced its support for the new
Foundation agenda by voting for a special
voluntary dues assessment on AMI members in
1999 and 2000. These voluntary contributions
from more than 125 member companies, non-member
companies and other industry groups, have
totaled more than $4.7 million
dollars.
The AMI Board
of Directors reaffirmed its support of the
Foundation in 2003 by voting to annually fund
the Foundation through AMI's dues, ensuring
that the Foundation's efforts will
continue.
Research
AMIF research
projects are coordinated closely with
government, academic and industry researchers.
In addition, the research activities of AMIF
allow the industry to have a voice in the
research process of other industry groups and
federal
agencies.
The AMIF Research Advisory
Committee is made up of technical
representatives from AMI member companies,
government and university researchers.
Each year the committees establish priorities
for each target research area. In 2004,
Salmonella priorities were added to the
existing E. coli O157:H7 and
Listeria research
priorities.
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of AMI Members who meet two times a year to review progress and identify future strategies. The Foundation is managed by the American Meat Institute, the leading trade association representing the U.S. meat and poultry industry.
