Reflecting on Five Years of Transformation at the American Feed Industry Association

Written by: Constance Cullman   |   August 12, 2024

Leadership Viewpoints, Sustainability, Education, Global Competitiveness

We often look at the calendar and lament, “Where has the time gone?” At other times, it seems like so much time has passed because we can only marvel at how much has changed and how different the world is. In the case of the last five years, both feelings resonate with me.  

In 2019, I joined the American Feed Industry Association and within a few short months, we experienced COVID-19, supply chain disruptions, a labor crisis and a rapidly changing global, national and state level policy environment. In short – the world changed.  

What is remarkable is how well our industry and organization weathered these changes and experienced remarkable progress and transformation. As with most progress, we didn’t do it alone. We were privileged to make this journey with colleagues and partners across the food and agricultural sectors who contributed to these collective achievements propelling our industry forward. 

Broadening Our Horizons 

With a changing regulatory and policy landscape, we worked with partners to significantly broaden our focus beyond the Food and Drug Administration and more actively engage the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department. By building strong personal connections within these agencies, we have established a more robust presence on Capitol Hill, conducting multiple grassroots fly-ins annually and closely monitoring multiple pieces of legislation. These efforts have been pivotal in driving long-needed regulatory reforms essential to our industry's future success. 

Advancing Sustainability and Education 

Our partnership with the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has been a cornerstone of our progress. Informed by IFEEDER’s impartial research program, we have developed a comprehensive policy and education program focused on sustainability. This initiative has catapulted the animal food industry into leadership positions both nationally and internationally, where it is now being recognized that some of the innovation happening in our sector will help the food and agriculture community meet broader sustainability goals. The collaboration between AFIA and IFEEDER has fostered partnerships with both traditional and non-traditional allies, bringing together resources and coalescing efforts to support projects vital to the long-term health of the animal agriculture supply chain. 

Expanding Global Engagement 

Recognizing the importance of a robust business climate, the AFIA expanded its efforts beyond domestic issues to secure our supply chain, fight against attacks on the U.S. food system and diversify markets. In 2021, the United Nations’ Food Systems Summit threatened to dictate diets, production systems and restrict innovation in the name of sustainability. The AFIA and our 60 industry partners worked with the U.S. government to reset the conversation and create an environment for real, scientific and evidence-based solutions to be brought forward. 

Our aggressive engagement, coupled with support from our partners at USDA, has resulted in over $2.1 million targeted to removing foreign regulatory barriers to U.S. animal food products. This partnership and dedicated resources have opened up new markets for our products and raised awareness of U.S. innovations. By collaborating with colleagues around the globe, we have addressed supply chain challenges, countered potentially harmful international standards and mitigated threats from global disruptions and anti-agriculture agendas. 

Growing Our Educational Outreach 

Our education programs have seen tremendous growth, attracting a diverse array of members to our innovative offerings. Guided by our 2023 strategic plan, the AFIA has launched an ambitious education program designed to meet emerging needs and prepare our members for future challenges. Our communications efforts have also flourished, securing coveted placements in policy and trade publications, increasing media interviews and national press inquiries, stopping misinformation in its tracks and earning several industry communications awards. 

Celebrating Our Collective Achievements 

As we reflect on these accomplishments, we extend our deepest gratitude to our industry leaders and colleagues across the food and agricultural supply chain with whom we have been privileged to collaborate and our partners in education and government that have allowed the AFIA the opportunity to grow and make a positive impact for the U.S. animal food sector.  

Thank you to AFIA’s members for being an integral part of our journey. And for those considering membership, I encourage you to celebrate this progress and consider joining our association. Here's to many more years of success and collaboration.