Jeff Goodwin, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management and Texas A&M AgriLife Research assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, was appointed 2026 chair-elect of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, USRSB, during the organization’s general assembly meeting held in Tampa, Florida.
Goodwin, who also holds the Thomas M. O’Connor Endowed Directorship in Rangeland and Wildlife Management, will hold the position for one year before becoming chair in 2027.
“USRSB provides a unique opportunity for collaboration within the beef industry,” Goodwin said. “Working closely with each sector of the beef value chain allows us to collectively advance research, strengthen education efforts and support sustainable beef production.”
A roadmap to sustainability
The USRSB is a national, multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance and support the sustainability of the U.S. beef value chain.
This is one of the first times an academic institution will lead the roundtable, which has historically been chaired by ranchers or industry representatives.
Goodwin said he aims to further AgriLife Research’s collaborative leadership impact within the beef community and strengthen the agency’s pioneering contributions to sustainable production systems.
Specifically, he is committed to advancing AgriLife Research’s ongoing role in the roundtable’s sustainable beef research roadmap, which is focused on providing a clear, science-based path forward for continuous improvement across U.S. beef production.
“Dr. Goodwin has dedicated his career to improving the health of rangeland ecosystems and ranching operations from the ground up through research and direct producer and industry engagement,” said Roel Lopez, Ph.D., head of the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. “In this role, he will continue to strengthen Texas A&M AgriLife’s reputation as a national leader in agriculture and resource stewardship.”
