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©Tennessee Emu Association |
What has AEA done for the Emu Industry? The American Emu Association is member driven, any accomplishments achieved by the volunteer Board of Directors or the association is through the efforts and support of the membership. AEA promotes public awareness of emu products, sponsors industry related research and monitors legislation that would have an impact on our industry. AEA created the environment for the emu industry to progressively grow
from an industry of minute sales revenue in 1998 to over $100 million in the
year 2002. This environment allowed several emu product companies to excel and
succeed. The American Emu Association sponsors International Emu Oil research and worked with the American Oil Chemists Society to develop standards and establish Trade Rules. Funded in 1994, Moisturizing and Cosmetic Properties of Emu Oil: A Double Blind Study was published in the Australian Journal of Dermatology in 1997 Funded 1995- 1998, Burn Study: Positive burn-wound treatment study conducted at Texas Tech University's Timothy J. Harner Burn Center and funded by AEA was published in 1998. Currently AEA is funding 3 other emu oil research projects which cannot be shared on this website until after they are published. Other intangibles 1998 The emu was accepted into the National Poultry Improvement Plan, giving AEA access to commercial poultry expertise and resources as the industry continues to develop. AEA begins PR campaign to combat bad publicity. PR efforts are ongoing. Worked with the World Ostrich Association to develop a consistent numbering system and nomenclature for cuts of meat to establish consistency in the industry. Click here to view results. Through efforts of AEA volunteer, Jane Wick, emu is included in a USDA funded research project of alternative red meats by The University of Wisconsin-Madison which is published in 2000. Results of study AEA creates the Certified Business Members program. This gave Emu Product companies an opportunity to promote their wares and become sponsors of the AEA. This also allowed AEA to promote emu meat and emu oil in press releases with a return phone number that would provide the consumer with a listing of the CBM's so that products could be located and purchased. This has grown to more than 20 CBM sponsors. AEA appoints a USDA NDB Liaison to work with USDA regarding inclusion in the USDA Nutrient Database. This database is the resource used by the food industry for credible information. A need to have the nutritional information available to food professionals (dieticians, chefs, meal ready to eat companies, etc.) was foreseen by AEA. Attempts to be added to this database were successful in September 2002. See also Oil Research 1999 Legislative committee organized grass roots push for mandatory USDA inspection and organizes a nationwide letter writing and phone call campaign of emu, ostrich and rhea producers. AEA gains support and help of the American Farm Bureau and many of the individual state Farm Bureaus in gaining this addition to the Mandatory USDA Inspection. The AEA board mans first booth at the American Oil Chemists Society convention to promote and educate the chemists, oil specialists, scientists and pharmaceuticals of the world on emu oil. AEA created the press release program, where AEA would provide a written press release to the AEA membership for offering to their local and state newspapers. See also Oil Research 2000 Legislative committee (established in 1999), after gaining over half the needed congressional co-sponsors for both Senate and House bills, successfully switches from passage of new legislation to inclusion of mandatory USDA inspection for ratites in the Appropriations Bill. With passage of the bill, USDA names ratites an "amenable" species and provides for mandatory USDA inspection. Prior to inclusion, the farmer had to pay for inspection. This new law goes into effect in April 2001. AEA conducts contest for new emu oil slogan – The winning entry came from Emu Today and Tomorrow. “Emu Oil, Life Just Got Better” AEA President Neil Williams and Legislative committee chairperson Jeanne Summerour presented written testimony on behalf of the emu industry to the House Agricultural Committee at a farm policy meeting held in Memphis, TN. Members email list was created giving members contact with each other forum style. Lists are nation-wide, regional, presidents, Board of Directors and by committee. The AEA board continues to man a booth at the AOCS convention to promote and educate the chemists, oil specialists, scientists and pharmaceuticals of the world on emu oil. AEA sent emu oil to the Olympics in Australia with the Track & Field, Sailing, Bicycling, Biathlon, Volleyball and Luge Teams. AEA sends 29 emu eggs with teaser cards to major media talk shows and news shows prior to them receiving a huge box of emu products (oil and meat). AEA works with Dr. Barry Sears in gaining addition of emu meat to his Zone Diet and to his recommended food list. AEA starts compiling a Doctor/Allied Health Database of health professionals that use emu oil. The purpose is being able to network doctors together when a doctor calls the AEA office wanting to know about emu oil. They can then be referred to doctors who already have experience using the oil. Through efforts of AEA, the American Heart Association adds emu to their
list of heart healthy foods. AEA works with Dr. Donna Kelly, DVM, MASCP, dipl. ACPV (Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network) to begin Emu baselines studies. Baseline studies are the gathering of emu samples during the processing stage for establishing levels of ecoli, salmonella and other pathogens in a processed emu. The AEA joined with a charity "Faith in Practice" in 2000 to promote the use of emu oil in with teams of traveling doctors to poverty stricken countries. AEA makes arrangements with Dr. Thomas N. Tully, Jr. of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine to write a column for the AEA EMUpdate as well as answer questions via email regarding emu health. See also Oil Research 2001 April 26, 2001, Revised law (Public Law No. 106-387), which takes effect makes emu an "amenable" species and provides for mandatory USDA inspection. The struggle for mandatory USDA inspection began in 1999. The AEA continues with a charity "Faith in Practice" in 2001 in promoting the use of emu oil in with teams of traveling doctors to poverty stricken countries. The AEA board continues to man a booth at the AOCS convention to promote and educate the chemists, oil specialists, scientists and pharmaceuticals of the world on emu oil. With the guidance and assistance of the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS), established specifications for three grades of emu oil, crude, once-refined and fully-refined. The Fully-Refined emu oil, being the highest grade of emu oil and having the most stringent specifications, is the only grade of emu oil that is considered by the AEA to be safe enough for dietary supplements and alternative medicine applications. The crude and once-refined grades of emu oil are excellent for industrial use, soap making or can be further refined to meet the specifications of Fully-Refined. Produced "Emu - Life Just Got Healthier", Official Cookbook of the American Emu Association. Emu Awareness Week is instigated nationwide. See also Oil Research 2002 Emu Awareness Week becomes National Emu Week, a nine day promotional opportunity for farmers. The AEA board continues to man a booth at the AOCS convention to promote and educate the chemists, oil specialists, scientists and pharmaceuticals of the world on emu oil. “Emu – Life Just Got Healthier” receives rave reviews from Important New Books September - USDA Nutrient Database SR 15 lists the nutritional values of emu meat. Attempts to be added to this database were begun in December 1998 by AEA’s USDA NDB Liaison, Alexandra Hall. See also Oil Research Currently 2003 Working for inclusion in the Packers and Stockyards Act (law cited as 7 U.S.C. 181). For all intents and purposes, this law guarantees to the rancher that when a buyer drives off of his farm with his animals that he WILL get his money. Supporting efforts of USDA to standardize Emu meat cuts. A standard Emu meat grading system will eliminate consumer confusion caused by the proliferation of names used to describe retail Emu meat cuts as well as reward top producers. Efforts being made to patent emu oil research results. See also Oil Research
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