WASHINGTON – Industry advances in food safety and the economic contributions of the meat and poultry sector were discussed by J. Patrick Boyle, president and chief executive officer of the American Meat Institute, during a recent panel discussion at the Annual Farm Forum hosted by U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) in Piqua, Ohio.

Ohio-based companies that produce, process, distribute and sell meat and poultry products employ 74,870 people in the state and generate an additional 164,400 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries, Mr. Boyle said. Several hundred citizens attended the event, including those employed in production agriculture and various aspects of the food industry.

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) moderated the panel, which was focused on food safety, sustainability, animal welfare and energy prices. Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK), ranking member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, delivered the keynote address. Elizabeth Harsh, executive director of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association; Byran Black, past president, National Pork Producers Council; Anthony Reed, senior director of government relations, Archer Daniels Midland; and Karen Chasez, vice president of procurement, PotashCorp; were among other panelists.