BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The American and European feed industries have renewed their longstanding partnership on sustainable feed production, feed safety management, communication, trade and pre-competitive research.

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) signed the agreement during FEFAC’s 60th anniversary event on June 6.

The partnership is expected to generate significant synergies for the respective member associations and feed companies, offering global joint project and partnership opportunities.

AFIA and FEFAC members recognize the value of providing joint leadership at a global level, in partnership with the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF), to develop feed industry solutions, which help reduce the environmental impacts of feed and livestock production, while promoting the highest level of feed safety management and biosecurity.

The associations agreed to explore further information sharing, linked to precompetitive research supporting joint projects, while maximizing feed trade opportunities.

“Our 15-year partnership with FEFAC has been a model for global collaboration and we are excited to expand our work together,” said Joel Newman, president and chief executive officer of the AFIA and Tim Belstra, chairman of the AFIA. “We look forward to broadening our joint leadership so we may provide both our members and industries with solutions to address future challenges, including assisting them with the adoption of new technologies, developing and deploying best practices and continuing to sustainably provide consumers with sound dietary choices.”

Nick Major, president of FEFAC, and Alexander Döring, secretary general, said, “We are excited about the prospect of developing a deeper, comprehensive partnership with our AFIA colleagues. Our enhanced cooperation will deliver further meaningful tools to our members and partners providing practical solutions to tackle societal issues linked to feed and livestock production, such as climate change, animal health and well-being. We are proud to represent the resource efficiency champions of the food chain and look forward to support our respective members’ efforts to move U.S. and E.U. feed production to the next level.”

After the signing ceremony,  Newman was awarded FEFAC Honorary Membership. FEFAC praised his professional commitment to promote feed safety standards at the global level with the setting up of the first International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) in 2008 in Atlanta, co-hosted by FAO and IFIF. He is the first “non-European” feed industry expert to receive the FEFAC honorary membership award.