Who Is The AEA (American Emu Association)

Industry Statement

The American Emu Association represents an alternative agriculture industry, dominated by the small farmer, who is devoted to humane and environmentally positive practices that will produce beneficial products for society. Emus are raised on feed formulated to optimize growth and in spacious pens providing ample room to grow. When the bird is processed, the layer of fat is removed and refined into a safe and stable oil, used in cosmetic and health products; the low-fat, mild flavored red meat is sold to health conscious consumers; the leather is crafted into beautiful goods. The American emu farmer is committed to sound farming practices, bringing the consumer quality products to enhance their lives.

Mission Statement

The AEA is a member driven, national agricultural community dedicated to developing structural support and visionary leadership for the emu industry through actions that develop public awareness of emu products and develop means to advance the growing emu industry.

THE AMERICAN EMU ASSOCIATION ~ More than a decade ago, a handful of emu farmers recognized the emerging need to organize a national association. The market held unrealized potential and many of America’s family farms had been staggered by high costs and low prices. Diversifying into the emu industry was a logical next step for thousands involved in agriculture.

Today, the American Emu Association has 600-plus members, committed to bringing emu oil and emu meat to the marketplace. But emu farmers around the country also recognize the need for additional consumer education and public awareness to build a better appreciation for the numerous benefits offered by emu products.

Currently, the emu industry is made up of over 500,000 birds, 36 United States Department of Agriculture plants and over 100 custom or state-inspected plants and hundreds of companies manufacturing more than 1,000 emu products for consumers in the U.S. and numerous foreign countries.

Since the AEA’S formation in 1989, progress has been fast and furious in building a solid agri-business. USDA acceptance in 1995 marked the first step in the process of meat product consistency. In 1998, emu was accepted in the National Poultry Improvement Plan. Mandatory USDA inspection was granted in the fall of 2001. The American Farm Bureau and many state Farm Bureaus have gone on record, supporting the emu industry.

Emu oil guidelines in 1996 that became American Oil Standards in 1997 created a benchmark for safe emu oil for consumer use and research is ongoing in the use of emu oil for wound healing, skin cell proliferation, in sports medicine and the relief of arthritis. In January, 2001, Emu Oil Trade Rules were adopted, which aligned the emu oil industry with other oil industries.

In order for the emu industry to move ahead at a pace that will sustain more American family farms, additional research is crucial – for emu oil, emu meat and for marketing emu products. And members of the association are committed to documentation and clinical analysis to discover the true potential of these products.

The survival of the family farm may well rely on the outcomes of current and continuing clinical trials and scientific studies about the properties of the products derived from emus. In the meantime, the AEA and other individual farmers are focusing on the issues of education and market acceptance.

As a fledgling industry, we have created and continue to maintain our own standards. We have, probably by default, created the standards for people to survive the new industry and its beginning. We are also creating successful home/farm enterprises and a valuable heritage in the process.

To accomplish our far-reaching goals, we have set standards that will not forsake the spirit we created and will endeavor to accomplish mutual goals with fairness, friendliness and unity.

The American Emu Association and its multiple focuses will not forsake fairness, friendliness and unity, the basis for the initial association group.

"We’ve been given remarkable and possibly unique opportunities to be free and enterprising," said Neil Williams, former President of the national association. "Now we are working, as individual farmers and as a nationwide industry to continue the record-breaking growth we have enjoyed through the end of the ‘90s and into the New Millennium"

To learn more about the AEA please visit them at  http://www.aea-emu.org