What are pre-competitive partnerships?

Farm 2 Fork Webinar Series - Jan 20, 2023: Driving Productive Change- the value of pre competitive industry.
Competitors in the same industry work together to find solutions to wicked problems in order to do what's best for their business, community, or society. Within the food science and technology industry this is especially important. Listen to the Executive Director, Anne Goetze and the Business Development Manager, Julie Rentsch for the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council, explain how they navigate this in the food and agriculture industry.
The food industry is complex and rapidly changing. This dynamic can be difficult to navigate for entrepreneurs and veterans alike. Having a model for stakeholders to work together more readily is a huge advantage in building a sustainable food system. It allows for minimizing big disruptions and creating a support system that drives productive change. Consumers, manufacturers, farmers, and the communities they live in all reap the benefits.
The dairy industry locally, regionally, and nationally is organized this way through the “check-off” program and serves as a relevant example for other crops that are not as seamlessly structured. The speakers will share examples of how pre-competitive work - life in the middle lane - directly benefits the food system. You’ll hear about partnerships in sustainability and business development. The speakers will also tell the story of stakeholder engagement that formed the foundations of the new dairy plant at OSU.