As someone working at a trade association, I often hear the question, 'What does the future hold for our industry?' Recently, much of this curiosity centers around sustainability. With the efforts the American Feed Industry Association and its members are putting into feed ingredient innovation and accurate product claims, I am hopeful that, one day, U.S. farmers and ranchers will be able to use these advancements to reduce their carbon impact AND benefit from a carbon market. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with American Feed Industry Association member Bryan Edwardson, president of Midwest Agri Commodities, on the nutritional benefits of using sugar beet coproducts in livestock feed. Midwest Agri, the sole owner of the Unbeetable Feeds brand, is leveraging beet pulp and other coproducts to provide high-fiber, low-protein feed options, selling 1.7 million tons of coproducts per year. 

One thing we excel at in agriculture is discussing our sustainable practices within our own community. So, when the American Feed Industry Association had the chance to engage with “green” finance professionals, i.e., stakeholders outside of our community, at a conference in New York City last week, we said YES!

The American Feed Industry Association recently joined the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA), which is a group of associations across the farming, fisheries and forestry industries. USSA was founded in 2013 and advocates for sustainable U.S. food and agricultural production, while supporting producers through global promotion of sustainable products and sharing of knowledge for optimal use of natural resources.

Feed bags play a pivotal role in keeping animal feed fresh during storage and transportation. Most often, bulk bags made for the purposes of feed are typically manufactured with woven polypropylene, which has been proven to be extremely difficult to recycle. While individuals have found other personal use for the bags, there is no large-scale effort to recycle these bags across the industry, but that could soon change. 

The recent International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga., served as a platform for industry leaders to come together and explore the intersection of sustainability and animal feed production. Two notable events, the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit and the “Feed Your ESG” educational program, hosted by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), spotlighted the strides in advancing sustainability within the feed and agriculture sectors. 

In a world increasingly conscious of sustainability and environmental responsibility, companies that prioritize eco-friendly practices are more vital than ever. Darling Ingredients has made a name for itself in the world of sustainability as it relates to the production of in-demand feed and food ingredients and renewable energy. It recently earned top awards for its commitment to environmental, social and governance practices (ESG). We had the privilege of speaking with Darling Ingredients’ Director of Sustainability Ethan Carter. Carter joined the company in August 2022 with more than 10 years of experience in a variety of environmental and sustainability roles in the energy industry. Here is a snapshot of that conversation.

When it comes to sustainability, the American Feed Industry Association has wrestled in recent years with where its policy team should focus efforts, particularly as it engages in diverse dialogues both nationally and on the international stage. This summer, the AFIA Sustainability Committee reviewed and approved focus areas for the association, and last week, the AFIA Board of Directors reviewed and supported the plan.