IFEEDER unveils five-year strategy for resilient feed supply chain

USA – The Institute for Feed Education & Research (IFEEDER) has released its 2026 annual update and a five-year strategic plan focused on strengthening research, education and resilience across the animal feed and pet food supply chain.

The strategy sets out IFEEDER’s priorities for expanding industry partnerships, delivering actionable research and building the organisation’s capacity to support long-term growth.

Lara Moody, IFEEDER executive director, said the organisation’s work over the past year demonstrated the value of translating research into practical information for the animal food industry.

The annual update highlights IFEEDER’s assessment of the vitamin and amino acid supply chain, described as the first evidence-based evaluation of US dependence on imported vitamins and amino acids across the food supply chain.

The assessment, supported by six species-specific reports, generated more than 534 media citations and has informed industry engagement with Congress, federal agencies, and other stakeholders on strengthening the US animal food ingredient supply chain.

IFEEDER also continued research into sustainability and animal nutrition, including projects focused on improving US ingredient data in the Global Feed Lifecycle Assessment Institute database and supporting updated nutrient requirements for poultry and swine.

Focus on feed supply resilience

Supply chain resilience is a central theme of the new strategic plan, which aims to help the animal feed and pet food industries respond to ingredient availability, sustainability and nutrition challenges.

IFEEDER has also launched Project Warehouse, providing American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) committees with a formal process for submitting research, education and sustainability proposals for consideration.

The organisation is also examining key chemicals used in vitamin and amino acid production as part of its latest research projects.

The strategic plan establishes three overarching goals: serving as a trusted industry partner, delivering actionable research and practical resources, and building operating capacity to support disciplined growth and collaboration.

Dan Meagher, chair of the IFEEDER Board of Trustees and president and chief executive officer of Novus International, said the plan would build on the organisation’s research and industry partnerships.

“By expanding our partnerships, broadening the reach of our research and helping stakeholders put those insights into action, we can strengthen IFEEDER’s impact and help shape a resilient future for the animal feed and pet food industry,” Meagher said.

IFEEDER and AFIA committees also raised more than US$86,000 for the Equipment Manufacturers Committee Scholarship Fund and Kenny Berg Research and Education Fund during fiscal 2025-26.

A second annual Day of Giving raised more than US$21,000 from over 120 donors, twice the amount raised in 2025.

Founded in 2009, IFEEDER conducts research, education, and sustainability projects with industry, academia, and public institutions to support understanding of the animal feed and pet food supply chain.

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