Prado named American Egg Board’s Director of Sustainability

The new hire will support a critical role in the AEB’s sustainability vision and five-year plan.

Meredith Johnson Headshot
Courtesy of BirdNote
Courtesy of BirdNote

Hema Prado, Director of Sustainability of the American Egg Board (AEB), was recently hired to lead the development and administration of a new sustainability program. The program will focus on crucial industry-level research and education initiatives that will positively affect US egg producers and their food industry customers. Prado will be reporting to Dr. Mickey Rubin, executive director of the AEB’s Egg Nutrition Center.

The plan

The five-year plan includes industry initiatives to advance on-farm continuous improvement in the areas of sustainability, hen care and various production metrics. Prado’s work will aim to help enhance the understanding of how eggs play a role in sustainable food systems. Additionally, the new plan will work closely with the AEB’s Food Chain Outreach, led by Mike Koenigs, operation to create relationships with food industry leaders.

The creation of the new role is part of AEB’s commitment to driving egg industry sustainability and hen welfare, while providing support to producers, retailers, foodservice and manufacturers. Additionally, the new program will be working closely with governmental and non-governmental agricultural agencies to verify industry-level, objective information about U.S. egg production.

Emily Metz, AEB President and CEO, stated “Everything we do at the American Egg Board is designed to meet consumers where they are and is derived from data and insights.” “Hema Prado has the experience and expertise to lead the research and education programs that will support the egg industry and its customers in telling this important production and environmental story and innovating around these values — securing the consumer’s trust and assuring prosperity for future generations of U.S. egg farmers,” said Metz.

“The issues we plan to address are complex,” said Prado. “I’m looking forward to engaging and partnering with our egg industry and agriculture stakeholders, our customers and parties outside of the industry — including environmental groups, technologists and thought leaders — to develop proactive, scientifically sound and rigorous solutions to the challenges we face,” she added.

Prado joins the AEB from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where she was senior advisor for agriculture in the Office of the Administrator. Prado has an M.S. in Environmental Management from University of Maryland University College and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Psychology from Pitzer College. 

Page 1 of 477
Next Page