What
is The Center for Food Integrity? The Center for Food Integrity is a not-for-profit
organization formed to build trust and confidence in the U.S.
food system. It combines the membership of The Grow America Project
and Best Food Nation, two national initiatives established in
2006 to increase public understanding about the U.S. food system. Why was The Center formed? The Center was formed to serve as a resource
where consumers and other stakeholders can find accurate, balanced
information about the food system and engage in constructive dialogue
on important issues affecting the production and supply of food
in the U.S. Additionally, recognizing that continuous improvements
are expected in today’s society, the Center will provide
food system stakeholders with a forum to address common issues.
We also believe the entire system can learn from individual companies
or associations who have embraced sound principles and model best
practices. Sound principles and best practices can help the entire
system improve performance, increasing consumer trust and confidence
in the food system.
What is the primary
mission of The Center for Food Integrity? The Center for Food Integrity’s primary
mission is to build consumer trust and confidence in the contemporary
U.S. food system by sharing accurate, balanced information, correcting
misinformation, modeling best practices and engaging stakeholders
to address key issues. Who are its members?
The Center for Food Integrity is supported by more than 20 organizations
representing each segment of the food chain, including the American
Farm Bureau Federation, Countrymark Cooperative, Dairy Management
Inc., Elanco Animal Health, Fair Oaks Dairy Farm, Indiana Farm
Bureau, Indiana Packers Company, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana
State Department of Agriculture, International Association of
Fairs and Expositions, Iowa Farm Bureau, Maple Leaf Farms, Michigan
State University, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Monsanto,
National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Novus International,
Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Purdue University,
South Carolina Farm Bureau, United Egg Producers, and United Soybean
Board. What issues will The Center focus
on? Over the next few months, The Center will establish
leadership teams to address the following five important issues:
1. Health and Nutrition
2. Food safety
3. Worker care
4. Environment
5. Animal well being
Leadership teams will be charged with developing responsible practices
for each area and engaging with stakeholders to address shared
concerns. How will you ensure transparency? The Center’s role is to bring members
of the food system together to achieve a higher level of trust
and confidence than what exists today. The Center will not lobby
or advocate individual food companies or brands.
Is there an issue
with consumers trusting the food system? Not at all. In fact, most research indicates
that people in the U.S. have a high degree of comfort in the current
food system. However, issues of shared concern do exist, and our
members feel that addressing stakeholders in a transparent manner
is the best solution. What do you mean by “contemporary
food system?” Today’s contemporary food system is comprised
of many interdependent segments, from the farmers and ranchers
who grow and raise our food, to the processors and food companies
that package food products, to the restaurants and retail outlets
that make it available to consumers. The food system is constantly
changing and we want to provide information that helps consumers
understand those changes and a forum for stakeholders to discuss
the changes. How can my organization become a
member? For further information about membership, contact
The Center for Food Integrity at (816) 880-5360.
