ARLINGTON, VA — The Meat Institute has been honored with a 2026 ASAE Power of Associations Gold Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in recognition of its outstanding work in leading the Protein PACT: for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow, a proactive continuous improvement strategy that unites the animal agriculture supply chain around common animal welfare, environmental, food safety, health, and workforce goals.

"This recognition belongs to all the partner organizations across the animal protein supply chain who came together in the Protein PACT to prove that competitors can collaborate around common interests," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. "Being named a Power of Associations Gold Award recipient affirms what we've long believed: that animal agriculture sustains healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet, and that our industry is stronger when we amplify our dedicated efforts together."

The ASAE Power of Associations Awards recognize associations that leverage their unique ability to convene stakeholders, inspire collaboration, and drive meaningful change. Through innovative programs, partnerships, and advocacy efforts, award recipients exemplify how associations create lasting impact that extends well beyond the members they serve.

Consumers, retailers and policymakers have been asking important questions about animal protein’s sustainability, animal welfare and community impacts, but until 2021 no cross-sector framework existed for the industry to speak with one voice, set shared benchmarks or verify progress. The Meat Institute spearheaded the Protein PACT to close that gap, uniting the animal protein value chain around the affirmative premise that meat sustains healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet.

The Protein PACT — led by 17 international organizations representing sectors across farming, meat and poultry processing, dairy, and animal feed and ingredients — built a platform for sharing progress across sectors, developed with industry leaders and supply chain partners, so that each partner organization's individual commitments could be shared collectively.

Since launching in 2021, the Protein PACT has helped drive measurable progress across the sector. The initiative has also inspired an annual Solutions Summit that brings together hundreds of industry leaders each year and has expanded its reach to universities and registered dietitians to help the next generation of consumers and health professionals understand the value of animal protein production.

By giving the animal protein sector, a common vehicle for transparent communication and continuous improvement, the Protein PACT advances the Meat Institute's mission of supporting a safe, wholesome and sustainable meat and poultry industry while building broader public trust in how America's food is produced. The initiative shows how a supply chain that spans farmers, processors and feed producers can align around shared goals for healthy people, healthy animals, healthy communities, and a healthy environment.

"ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards recognize the very best of what our community can accomplish," said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, AAiP. "This recognition honors organizations that don't simply advance their own missions - they bring people together to solve complex challenges, strengthen industries and professions, and create lasting benefits for society. The Meat Institute has demonstrated the vision, leadership, and commitment to make a meaningful difference, and we are proud to recognize the Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow as one of this year's outstanding achievements."

To learn more about the Meat Institute's Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow, visit TheProteinPACT.org.

About the Meat Institute

The Meat Institute is the trade association representing the interests of America's meat, poultry and processed meat industry. Its members handle the majority of U.S. meat and poultry production and processing, providing jobs for hundreds of thousands of people. The Meat Institute serves its members by providing regulatory, scientific, education, legislative and public affairs support. The Meat Institute is a founding partner of the Protein PACT for the People, Animals & Climate of Tomorrow, which unites partners across animal protein in the first-ever joint effort to accelerate the entire animal protein sector's progress toward global sustainable development goals. To learn more, visit MeatInstitute.org.

About The Power of Associations Awards

ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards recognize the association community’s economic and societal contributions locally, nationally and globally. ASAE will celebrate The Power of Associations Award recipients during its annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 22, 2026, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.