Joint ABI-ADPI Meeting Features GMO Discussion, Attracts Record Attendance
May 6, 2014
Genetically modified food ingredients and opportunities and challenges in the Middle Eastern and North African markets were among the topics discussed at the 15th joint conference of the American Butter Institute and the American Dairy Products Institute. Held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in late April, the 2 ½-day meeting attracted more than 900 attendees. Otis Wilson from the 1985 Championship Chicago Bears and former Chicago Bear and Green Bay Packer Anthony Morgan were keynote speakers at the conference, which opened with a discussion of the growth, production, pricing and weather issues impacting the dairy industry.
A separate panel on genetically modified food ingredients included farmer, manufacturer and distributor perspectives. Other topics included mandates created by the Dodd-Frank financial reform act, the Food Safety Modernization Act, the infant nutrition market, and dairy ingredient plant technology and practices.
Former NMPF President and CEO and ABI Executive Director Jerry Kozak received ADPI’s Award of Merit, which annually recognizes those individuals who have made a difference in the processed dairy products industry. Kozak retired from NMPF in December after 16 years. He served as ABI’s executive director for 22 years.
Two new members – Brian Caspary from Foremost Farms USA and Brian Linney from MD & VA Milk Producers Cooperative Association – were elected to the ABI board at the conference, which also included three receptions featuring world championship cheeses. The next conference will be held April 26 – 28, 2015, also at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
