Dr. Denise Heard Joins FFAR’s Board of Directors

WASHINGTON (August 17, 2022) – The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is thrilled to announce that Dr. Denise Heard, vice president of research programs at the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), is joining FFAR’s Board of Directors.

Mark E. Keenum
Dr. Denise Heard is a trailblazing leader in poultry research in the agriculture industry. Her animal welfare expertise, knowledge of food and agriculture research and support for FFAR make her a superb addition to our board of directors. Mark E. Keenum, Ph.D.
Chair, FFAR Board of Directors
President
Mississippi State University

At USPOULTRY, Heard directs the association’s comprehensive research program and Board Research initiative program, which cover all components of poultry and egg production and processing. Specifically, she oversees $1 million in research and evaluates between 100 to 200 proposals annually. Heard also manages the activities of the Foundation Research Advisory Committee, where she makes recommendations on research proposals to the board of directors for funding approval.

Denise Heard headshot
At USPOULTRY, Heard directs the association’s comprehensive research program and Board Research initiative program, which cover all components of poultry and egg production and processing. Specifically, she oversees $1 million in research and evaluates between 100 to 200 proposals annually. Heard also manages the activities of the Foundation Research Advisory Committee, where she makes recommendations on research proposals to the board of directors for funding approval. Denise Heard, DVM, MAM, ACPV
Vice President, Research Programs
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association

Prior to joining USPOULTRY, Heard served as the senior coordinator at U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), where she led the administration of the NPIP program in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In this capacity, she authorized more than 100 NPIP laboratories across the country, which incorporated rulemaking into federal regulation for the U.S. poultry industry.

Heard holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine and a master’s degree in avian medicine from the University of Georgia. She also earned a certificate in executive public leadership from Washington University and Harvard University.

We are honored to have Dr. Heard join FFAR’s board. It’s exciting to extend Dr. Heard’s involvement with FFAR from advisory council membership and reviewer support to a seat on the board. We have faith Dr. Heard will apply her distinguished perspective to FFAR’s audacious research. Julie Reynes
Chief Operating Officer

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR