January 18, 2024

US feed industry receives federal funding for global market access

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has been awarded US$170,000 in federal funding for the fiscal year 2024 through the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service's Market Access Programme (MAP), to empower the animal food industry to enhance market access and facilitate the export of US animal food products to Vietnam and China, Pet Food Processing reported.

With additional roll-over funding, the total MAP funding for AFIA in 2024 reached nearly US$200,000.

Constance Cullman, president and CEO of AFIA, expressed gratitude to the USDA for recognizing AFIA's leadership in the animal feed, feed ingredient, and pet food trade.

Cullman emphasised the potential of the US animal food industry to improve global animal nutrition practices and pet food diets. Foreign regulatory and policy constraints currently hinder fair competition for these products in international markets. AFIA looks forward to collaborating with the USDA to overcome these trade barriers and promote US products.

With the secured MAP funding, AFIA aims to continue its efforts to expand the US animal food industry's US$7.5 billion worth of exports. This includes conveying the benefits of US animal food products, such as utility, safety, and quality, to stakeholders in Vietnam and China. The initiative also involves educating pet owners on the importance of complete-and-balanced pet diets for improved animal health and longevity.

Operating under the MAP framework, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service partners with trade associations, like AFIA, and other collaborators to jointly fund the promotion of US agricultural products and commodities on the international stage.

-       Pet Food Processing