MEMPHIS, TN -- Earlier this week, USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited hosted meetings for contributing partners in the Sustaining the Future of Rice Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).  The roundtable meeting was designed to foster discussion amongst USA Rice member companies and end users on how to improve and coordinate common goals and initiatives related to sustainability and conservation.

The meeting participants, all of whom support the Rice and Ducks RCPP through in-kind and cash contributions, are now looking to further implement and support conservation practices on rice farms through collaboration and to help build capacity for future projects. Companies represented include:  Anheuser-Busch, Kellogg's, Mars, Producers Rice Mill, Riceland Foods, and Unilever.

Sustainability matters (from left):  Steven Caver, Producers Rice Mill; Amy Braun, Kellogg's; Mark Lambert, Riceland Foods; Stephanie Milli, Unilever; Scott Manley, Ducks Unlimited; Betsy Ward, USA Rice; Ben Noble, Arkansas Rice Federation; Lauren Waldrip, Arkansas Rice Federation; Andy Morris, Mars; Jennifer James, rice grower; Ben Mosely, USA Rice; Alex St. Amour, Arkansas Rice Federation, and Kristopher Riggs, Anheuser-Busch.

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