AFIA Unlocks New Opportunities for US Feed Exports in Inaugural Sellers' Mission to Brazil

Written by: Ivy Torres   |   August 22, 2024

Brazil, SIAVS, Global Market Access, Global Competitiveness, Trade

In early August, the American Feed Industry Association embarked on an exciting new journey—our very first sellers' mission to Brazil! AFIA’s Gina Tumbarello, Mallory Gaines and I have been sharing updates on various global projects the association has undertaken over the past few years to build

markets for U.S. animal food exports, ranging from market assessments and scoping missions to educational webinars and in-country workshops. Now, we have added a sellers' mission to the mix!  

These missions are crucial for expanding market access, as they help further gauge a market’s receptivity for U.S. feed ingredients. Brazil, as we’ve seen, is more than ready. 

After Gaines’s scoping mission in April, what really stood out to the AFIA global affairs team was the strong demand for innovative U.S. feed ingredients in Brazil. With this in mind, we centered our mission around SIAVS, the largest agricultural trade show in Brazil, which draws over 30,000 attendees and showcases a broad range of agricultural products. SIAVS provided the perfect platform for AFIA's mission, creating an ideal environment for fostering impactful business-to-business connections. 

AFIA’s President and Chief Executive Officer Constance Cullman, Mallory and I were joined by two member companies in Brazil: Optum Immunity and Zeigler Bros. Despite having different areas of focus, we coordinated approximately 30 meetings with top Brazilian companies over the course of three days. Luis Enrique Santana of Optum Immunity praised the mission saying,  

“The mission provided an excellent platform for fostering relationships, exploring new opportunities and showcasing our product's potential. It was inspiring to see the synergy between all involved parties, and I am confident that the connections made will lead to fruitful endeavors in the future.”  

The results speak for themselves—one member is already in discussions for a trial in Brazil, while another is continuing promising conversations with several Brazilian companies. It proved to be a resounding success, with Santana sharing how the staff expertise helped: 

“The success of this mission is a testament to the collaborative efforts and unwavering commitment of individuals like the AFIA staff who went above and beyond to ensure its smooth execution. The staff’s expertise and professionalism were pivotal in navigating the complexities of the Brazilian market, and the positive outcomes we witnessed could not have been achieved without your valuable contributions."

The excitement did not stop there! In addition to the business-to-business meetings, we hosted a networking event for members attending SIAVS, along with key leaders from the Brazilian industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service office in Brazil, and the leadership of FeedLatina, an influential Latin American regional feed association.  

Our mission in São Paulo had two primary goals: to connect our members with decision-makers in the Brazilian industry and to kickstart a collaborative relationship with FeedLatina.  

I've already shared some highlights from the trade show floor, so stay tuned for next week’s update where Gaines and Cullman will delve into their experiences at FeedLatina’s annual meeting!