With 2024 winding down, the AFIA highlights the key focus areas sparking interest in the US feed and pet food ingredient sectors.
“As we gear up for 2025, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is ready to team up with the new presidential administration and US Congress to update regulations on animal food ingredient reviews, break down trade barriers, and tackle trade imbalances head-on,” says Constance Cullman, AFIA president and CEO.
“We also want to spotlight how US animal food ingredients can be part of the solution to some of the biggest challenges in food security, the economy, and the environment.”
The AFIA expects the Donald Trump administration to pick up where it left off on regulatory reform, bringing back its ‘two-for-one’ policy from his previous term, where for every new regulation introduced, two must be reviewed or repealed.
More broadly, the association anticipates that the incoming administration will closely examine the rules, regulations, and resources dedicated to ensuring the safety of the US food supply under its ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda.
In these efforts, the AFIA hopes the new administration will prioritize responsible, risk- and science-based policies that promote better animal nutrition, enhance product quality, ensure workplace safety, and improve regulatory efficiency.
Feed ingredient review processes
Cullman stressed how it is crucial for regulations to keep pace with advancements in animal nutrition science.
She also outlined how the trade group has been collaborating with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) throughout 2024 to modernize its regulatory review processes for ensuring the safety and integrity of new animal food ingredients.
“The work began in February when the FDA retracted an outdated policy guide that previously classified certain non-nutritive ingredients - designed to promote gut health, reduce emissions, or enhance food safety - as drugs instead of feedstuffs.
“The AFIA has long advocated for the FDA to update this nearly 30-year-old regulatory policy, allowing these ingredients to be more appropriately reviewed as feed under the existing Food Additive Petition (FAP) process. We commend the FDA’s steps toward modernization.”
Additionally, she noted that the association has been advocating for a legislative solution through the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act, which is gaining bipartisan and bicameral support among lawmakers.
“In addition to this effort, in August, the FDA ended its memorandum of understanding with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), eliminating one of the three existing pathways for animal food innovators to have their ingredients reviewed.
“In its place, the FDA introduced a new system - the Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) process - and the AFIA, along with other stakeholders, provided feedback.
“Furthermore, just this month, the AFIA submitted comments to the FDA on how to address shortcomings in its remaining two review systems - the FAP and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) processes - and anticipates further developments in this area.”
With the evolving regulations around feed ingredients, the AFIA is optimistic that the modernized policies will help keep the US feed industry competitive in the global marketplace, added Cullman.
Export markets
The AFIA received another round of federal funding from the USDA's $1.4bn Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) on December 19. The funds will be used to develop new export markets for US food and agricultural products beyond traditional partners.
In 2023, US exports of feed, feed ingredients and pet food were valued at $13.4bn, with a total export volume of 19.8 million metric tons.
Trading partners
Trump has remained steadfast in his commitment to holding trading partners accountable, which could involve the use of tariffs, and is dedicated to negotiating trade agreements, acknowledged Cullman.
“The AFIA hopes that Trump will reconsider unscientific policies that are jeopardizing trade with some of the US’s most valuable trading partners, such as Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn imports, and will explore opportunities to open new international markets for animal food exporters,” commented the AFIA lead.
Dependency on China
The AFIA says it is continuing to advocate for measured action toward foreign suppliers where alternative sources do not exist, such as single-country suppliers of key vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
“Currently, China produces over 70% of the world’s vitamins and many critical amino acids, including 77% of lysine, 91% of threonine, 84% of valine, and 27% of methionine.
“The AFIA will continue urging federal agencies responsible for ensuring a stable supply chain and protecting US trade interests to assess the current supply chain for these critical inputs and take steps to address potential vulnerabilities, including increasing resources for domestic manufacturing,” said Cullman.
