Former Tyson Foods exec named chief sustainability officer for National Pork Board

Jamie Burr, former director of environmental compliance for Tyson Foods, has been named the first chief sustainability officer for the Des Moines, Iowa-based National Pork Board.

Burr brings more than 20 years of experience to the trade group working in sustainability and environmental programs for Tyson Foods. He grew up on a hog farm in southern Missouri. Burr served on and chaired several Pork Board environmental and sustainability committees and task forces, so his leadership has already helped shape the industry’s sustainability vision, the trade group noted in the release.

“Jamie’s input has been invaluable to several key producer-funded initiatives for more than a decade,” said National Pork Board CEO Bill Even. “Establishing a CSO position and adding Jamie to the team continues to demonstrate our industry’s strong commitment to advancing pork sustainability. Burr’s previous experience puts him in a unique position to be an advocate for the pork industry.”

Even said Burr will work as a conduit between producers, supply chain partners, the investment community, and consumers.

Burr most recently served as director of environmental compliance for Tyson Foods and was the environmental lead for all of Tyson’s live-animal production businesses. Prior to that, he led several environmental, safety, health and sustainability teams since joining the company in 1999. He led the development of Tyson’s greenhouse gas science-based target, its deforestation and land-stewardship targets.

Burr earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in agronomy from Missouri State University.

“It’s an honor for me to lead this team and take on the responsibility of shaping and sharing the industry’s sustainability story,” said Burr. “We have bold goals and metrics that producers have laid out for us, and I look forward to working with the staff and the board to meet and report on those efforts.”