Charitable Foundation
Established in 1965, the National Grain and Feed Foundation provides support for public education and research projects that benefit the grain, feed and processing industry, enhance its presence to the public, and position it for future growth. The Foundation is funded entirely by voluntary corporate and individual contributions. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, contributions to the Foundation from private, individual and corporate sources, as well as from other industry foundations, are tax deductible.
Mission
The Foundation's mission is:
- To support specific research projects that enhance the economic growth and knowledge base of the industry.
- To promote applied research that enhances the productivity and safety of industry members.
- To foster the highest standards in education pertinent to the grain, feed and processing industry.
- To enhance public awareness about issues important to agribusiness.
- To promote a positive image of the grain, feed and processing industry through expanded public awareness of the grain-based food system.
Project Selection and Management
Prospective projects are carefully reviewed by Foundation trustees and staff. Resources are managed carefully to ensure maximum benefit in return for the Foundation's investment. Only those projects judged to have a high probability of making a significant positive contribution to the industry, its employees and the industry's future are funded and undertaken.
Recent Projects
Biofuels Study: The Foundation helped fund a landmark study in 2007 that provided a realistic assessment of how large the U.S. biofuels sector could become, and estimated the likely impacts on crop markets, the livestock and poultry sectors, exports, and grain-based wholesale and retail food prices. The study, conducted by Iowa State University's Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, also was funded by major national livestock, poultry, meat and food organizations.
Arbitration Study: The Foundation funded a comprehensive study on NGFA's Arbitration System published in 2007 by famed University of Chicago School of Law Professor Lisa Bernstein. The research focused on numerous factors, such as the comparative expense, complexity and fairness of different alternative-dispute resolution forums.
Feed Quality Assurance Videos: The Foundation provided financial support for the production of four feed quality assurance videos. The videos - the first of their kind - are designed to be used by feed mill managers as an ongoing training and educational tool with employees and new hires.
Optimal Grain Marketing: This project examined how various cash grain marketing contracts and strategies can be used most effectively - with or without crop insurance - to maximize market returns for farmer-customers. The Foundation developed an extensive resource notebook, a producer's booklet and conducted four educational workshops.
U.S. Agriculture 20/20: Started in 1993 to help restore economic growth to all sectors of U.S. agriculture, this program was successful in educating policymakers and the public on the benefits of increased crop production by ending government acreage-idling programs.
Research on Clean Air Act Data: The Foundation conducted a $250,000 research project that obtained valuable data on grain dust emissions that convinced the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt most grain elevators, feed mills and processing plants from the requirement to obtain Clean Air Act operating permits and pay costly annual fees. Estimated savings to the industry reduced regulatory compliance costs: $20 million annually - an average of $1,500 per facility each and every year!
Engulfment Research: This project developed new techniques and educational materials on how to prevent employees from being entrapped in grain, and in extricating them if such engulfments occur.
All administrative support and management expertise for the day-to-day operations of the Foundation are donated by the NGFA. That means 100 percent of the contributed funds is directed to research and education. For more information on the Foundation, or to find out more about making a contribution, please call the NGFA office at (202) 289-0873. Contributions should be sent to: National Grain and Feed Foundation, 1250 Eye St., N.W., Suite 1003, Washington, D.C., 20005-3922.