[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 66 (Thursday, April 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL RENDERING DAY
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of National
Rendering Day.
As ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a voice for
Arkansas farmers and ranchers, I have seen firsthand their dedication
to producing the most affordable, abundant, and safe supply of food in
the world. That responsibility extends beyond the farm, with rendering
playing a critical role in ensuring we can meet the growing global
demand for food, feed, and fuel.
U.S. renderers contribute $10 billion in annual economic activity.
These include many small businesses which are the backbones of our
economy. Utilizing innovative technologies and a highly skilled
workforce, renderers reclaim otherwise wasted animal material such as
protein, bone, and fat, as well as used cooking oil from restaurants.
For hundreds of years, renderers have been upcycling the unused
materials into higher-value applications including pet food, biofuels,
soaps, gels, and candles in addition to fertilizer. By reducing the
amount of waste sent to landfills, rendering makes our food production
footprint smaller and helps minimize the environmental impacts of
animal agriculture and food production.
In Arkansas, there are many successful rendering companies, and I am
grateful for the jobs they create and their proficiency in generating
useful products for consumers. We celebrate the inaugural National
Rendering Day on April 21 and recognize the countless contributions of
the industry to protecting the environment, delivering sustainable
solutions, and growing the economy. I am pleased to join this special
acknowledgment to help bring awareness to reducing and eliminating food
waste through rendering and promote rendered products as a sustainable
choice for our planet.
____________________