[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Alltech has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting gender diversity, equality and inclusion across the global meat and food supply chain by signing a two-year strategic partnership with Meat Business Women.

Meat Business Women and Alltech will work together to develop and empower team members through access to masterclasses and mentoring development resources. They will also collaborate to attract new talent into the agri-food sector. As a strategic partner, Alltech will provide expertise and input into the group’s strategic direction and support its wider mission of raising the profile of women in the meat industry.

The organisations will also collaborate on two regional “Community Connect” events which will facilitate networking opportunities for professionals working across the entire agri-food supply chain. These networking events will both take place at Alltech offices: one in Stamford, UK, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, and one in Dunboyne, Ireland, on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Orla McAleer, Alltech’s chief culture officer, will speak at both events, and will be joined in Stamford by Dr. Jules Taylor-Pickard, global technical director at Alltech, and in Dunboyne by Tara McCarthy, Alltech’s global vice president of ESG. They will speak about pivotal moments from their career journeys and share more about why the two organisations are working together.

“We are thrilled to partner with Meat Business Women to champion gender diversity and inclusion within the agri-food sector. By empowering women through access to invaluable resources and networking opportunities, we are not only fostering individual growth but also driving positive change across the industry,” said McAleer. “Alltech believes that inclusion cultivates creativity, drives innovation and is essential to the company’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. In 2019 Alltech selected Gender Equality as one of the nine United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to which the company is committed to advancing.”

Harriet Wilson, partnerships director at Meat Business Women, says, “We are delighted that Alltech has joined the Meat Business Women family as a strategic partner and look forward to working closely with their brilliant team. We know that networking is a crucial skill for women to develop, so we’re delighted that Alltech has generously agreed to support us with these two events across the UK and the Republic of Ireland so that even more of our community can come together, learn, connect and develop their careers.”

Meat Business Women is the United Nations’ recognised global professional network for women working across the meat industry. It was created to improve the sustainability of the meat sector and grow the pipeline of female talent in this male-dominated industry.

Alltech is a global leader that delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. Its diverse portfolio of products and services improves the health and performance of animals and plants, resulting in better nutrition for all and a decreased environmental impact. Learn more at alltech.com.

To learn more about Meat Business Women, visit meatbusinesswomen.org. To book your place at a Community Connect event in Stamford or Dunboyne, visit our website here.

Pet brands that focus on sustainability have grown 7.1 times faster than their conventional counterparts in the last five years. This insight comes from our latest episode of the AgFuture podcast. This week, we are joined by Jim Lamancusa, Executive Director of the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Hannah Tirrell-Wysocki, Accreditation Manager at the PSC; and Kami Grandeen, Alltech’s North American Companion Animal Sales Manager. They discuss the mission and growth of the PSC, Alltech's recent reaccreditation with the PSC, and the platinum, gold, and silver sustainability medals from EcoVadis, an organization that provides business sustainability ratings. They also explore the shifting demand for sustainable pet foods by Millennials and Gen Z. Tune in to learn how these initiatives are transforming the pet industry.

The following blog is a summary of the Ag Future podcast episode with Jim Lamancusa, Hannah Tirrell-Wysocki and Kami Grandeen, hosted by Tom Martin. Click below to hear the full audio or listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tom:                      For Ag Future, I’m Tom Martin. Today, we’re focusing on sustainability efforts in the pet industry. With me are Jim Lamancusa, executive director of the Pet Sustainability Coalition. Welcome, Jim.

Jim:                         Thanks for having me.

Tom:                      Hannah Tirrell-Wysocki, Pet Sustainability Coalition accreditation manager. Thanks for joining us, Hannah.

Hannah:                  Thanks. Great to be here.

Tom:                      And Alltech’s North American companion animal sales manager, Kami Grandeen. Hello, Kami.

Kami:                      Hi, Tom. Thanks for having us today.

Tom:                      Jim, let’s start with you. A broad question: If you would, just tell us about the Pet Sustainability Coalition. How did it come about, and what’s the mission?

Jim:                         Sure. We’ve been around for 11 years, and it was recognized 11 years ago that there are major sustainability challenges to the pet industry that can’t be solved by one individual company. And so, back 11 years ago, we had eight founding members that came together to form the Pet Sustainability Coalition. Now, fast forward 11 years later, we have over 200 members across 17 countries, and we are helping our members to become more sustainable brands and individual companies themselves. We’re also tackling these larger sustainability challenges that the pet industry faces.

Tom:                      And how is that working? How are your practices advancing the pet business?

Jim:                         There’s a couple what we call legs to the stool. One of them is around ingredients. We help our brands to focus on more sustainable ingredient sources like regenerative agriculture meat and proteins, or alternative proteins like insect proteins, that help reduce their carbon footprint. We also help brands on the packaging side, so moving packaging from virgin plastics to recycled content: recyclable, biodegradable, and paper-based packaging products that, again, reduce the environmental impact. Third is, we help our brands focus on social sustainability initiatives, so employee surveys, supply chain mapping. We help supply chain roadmapping, helping build a green team within your pet food company. Those are just a couple examples about what we do with our members.

Tom:                      Okay. Hannah, let’s bring you in. You’re an accreditation manager with the Pet Sustainability Coalition. Alltech’s been re-accredited by the coalition. Why is accreditation by the PSC important to Alltech?

Hannah:                  The PSC accreditation is a little bit different from our membership. We have an open membership model, which means that any company, regardless of where they are on their sustainability journey, is welcome to join as members. We think that that’s really important because we need everyone at the table when it comes to making change. But our accreditation is really reserved for companies who are further along on that sustainability journey. Companies like Alltech, who are really leading in the pet industry when it comes to their social and their environmental impact.

                               So, companies like Alltech, who are accredited, must measure, verify, and commit to continual improvement.

                               Measurement refers to an assessment that these companies take, which is based on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. And then verifying refers to a third-party verification that happens where companies submit documentation to substantiate their assessment responses. And then the third part is my favorite part, really, is that companies who are accredited are committed to continually improving on their sustainability. And I think this is so important because sustainability is a moving target, right? Like, as technology advances and as business grows, there’s always room for improvement.

                               And again, Alltech has committed to all three of those and are one of our accredited companies.

Tom:                      All right, Kami, let’s get your perspective from the Alltech point of view. What is the value of this accreditation to customers like Alltech?

Kami:                      Overall, the PSC group is just a great guide on our sustainability journey. I really think for Alltech and our pet business, it does two different things. The verification and the accreditation really ensure that we are on the right path, that we’re doing the right things. It’s pushing us to do even more things. Like both Jim and Hannah said, continuous improvement. We’re not gonna be satisfied with where we are today or where we are tomorrow. We’re gonna keep moving.

                               So it firstly helps us and guides us. And I think the second piece of that is, it tells our customers the pet brands that we supply ingredients to. It tells the pet industry as a whole that we are truly committed to sustainability. We are trying to improve. We’re looking for ways that we can be more efficient, more environmentally and socially responsible. So I think it solidifies that commitment to the industry.

Tom:                      Let’s talk about that. Tell us about Alltech’s sustainability initiatives that you have underway.

Kami:                      Really, a lot of the continuous improvements. We’re dedicated. We’ve signed up for 9 of these 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, which is, I think, a really big wish list there, but continuously making improvements. We are committed to the 10 Principles of the U.N. Global Compact as well. We’ve made some really great strides so far. If you just look at some highlights from our last Sustainability Reports, we’ve had 4.5 million invested in efficiency projects. Through these projects, we’ve taken 7,600 metric tons of CO₂ out of the system, through these efficiency projects. And 100% of our production team members are trained on health and safety.

                               So, kind of across the board, I think we’ve made some good strides, and we’re gonna continue to get better.

Tom:                      Well, Kami, staying with you: Last year, Alltech was recognized with platinum, gold, and silver sustainability medals from EcoVadis, an organization that provides business sustainability ratings. And I understand that this recognition places Alltech among some industry heavy hitters globally. What does it mean to the company, to Alltech, to be recognized in this way?

Kami:                      Yeah, we’re extremely proud of this. This, as you can imagine, is an incredible amount of work. This doesn’t just happen because leadership says, We’re gonna get this accreditation, we’re gonna do these things. This happens because our team does a lot of hard work. They innovate. They look for ways to improve. They forge new paths. They look for new answers that maybe weren’t the answers that they were using yesterday and maybe won’t be the answers that they’re using tomorrow. We’re incredibly proud of this. I think we’re always learning new things. I think we can learn something from every accreditation, every verification that we go through. We continuously learn new things that we can do better and learn how to make things more efficient and more environmentally and socially sustainable.

Tom:                      Alltech ran a sustainability insights survey among leading agri-food businesses to get a sense of the issues that matter most to the agri-food value chain. What did you learn from that?

Kami:                      Yeah, the agri-food insights [survey] was really interesting. I think it was eye-opening to a lot of us because we did interview global leaders. And I think that the interesting part was, as a whole, the agri-food industry is really looking for ways to be more sustainable. And that’s probably going to come through innovation, through collaboration, through communication, to figure out how to solve this problem collectively as an industry.

                               But if you break it down by different regions, the top concerns really do vary. I mean, for example, in the EU, emissions were the thing that we found were the biggest priority. If you look at Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, it was sourcing raw materials. Latin America’s focus was more on water and soil health. And then if you look at the U.S., or North America, more on the economic sustainability. How do we keep family farms in business?

                               I think if you look collectively, everyone’s focused on these, but the priorities by country were very different, and I think it gives us all a chance to work together and communicate maybe how the EU is working on emissions today will be a priority for the U.S. tomorrow. So I think it was good insights.

Tom:                      Well, you mentioned collaboration, and I know the survey indicates a great deal of interest in the industry in partnership and collaboration, but are these competitive interests that we’re talking about? How does that work?

Kami:                      Yeah, that’s always a challenge. I think, as businesspeople, we’re naturally going to be competitive. And I think we can put away our competitiveness for this because we all are working toward the same goal. But I think that’s where groups like the Pet Sustainability Coalition really come in and help bring us together, get us all on the same page, and get us communicating and talking about what we’re doing. We’re not competing with each other on this. We are working together on this.

                               So it is a great way, a great organization, to guide us into working together. And all kudos to PSC for being open and willing, and starting these discussions, and figuring out ways to get people who may be competitors to share ideas and work together.

Tom:                      All right, Hannah, back to you. While there might be some debate over it still, climate change appears to be a given in the agri-food industry. How is climate change impacting the industry now, and what are some anticipated future impacts?

Hannah:                  One of the big ways that climate change is impacting the industry is really what the changing climate means for farming. So, you think about changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, reductions in water availability, negative impacts on biodiversity like pollinators, sea level rise rate. Think about drier areas getting drier, wetter areas getting wetter. All of this obviously has an impact on productivity and yield, so we will likely see more disruption of the supply chain because of this.

                               But one of the solutions, actually — Jim mentioned this earlier — that PSC is really focused on is looking at ways to transition our food system to a more regenerative agricultural system, meaning that farmers are working with the land in these age-old, proven ways to support the soil health, which ultimately makes the whole system more resilient to the changes that are ahead. And this type of farming can also create more of a carbon sink, sequestering more carbon in the soil, in the plants, which ultimately contributes to the solution.

Tom:                      Jim, does the industry have any data indicating that consumers are paying attention to companies that employ sustainable production methods? Is it having a market impact?

Jim:                         It sure is. It sure is. Some of these numbers that I’m gonna give you are from Packaged Facts, which is a great industry body that does surveys to all consumers. 87% of consumers are actively looking for products that reduce packaging waste, 82% of consumers are concerned with environmental footprint of pet products that they buy, 71% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products. And what’s really interesting is that Gen Z and millennials are the most concerned and most likely to make purchasing decisions around sustainable products, of any generation in history.

                               And this is turning into revenue for brands. So, brands that focus on sustainability have grown 7.1 times faster versus their conventional counterparts in the last five years. All of this combines to reduced costs for these brands, increased customer loyalty, and develops a more resilient supply chain.

                               And on top of all of that, not only is it better for the brands and their revenue, but we’re seeing these government regulations and laws that are coming out. In the EU, they’ve launched something called the CSRD, which requires brands to report on their carbon impact and have a plan to reducing their carbon footprint. In the U.S., the SEC just released rules in March of this year that any brand that’s over $75 million in revenue has to report on their carbon emissions. So, not only is it these bigger brands that have to report on it, but it also goes through the entire supply chain.

                               So, imagine that you’re a farmer or an ingredient supplier that is supplying one of these larger companies. The larger company’s requiring to understand the carbon footprint of your particular ingredient so that they can calculate their entire footprint. So it’s having ripple effects through the entire industry where it has been a wonderful thing from — we call it the carrot. The carrot of sustainability is that it increases customer loyalty. It should help grow your brand, increase revenue, increase velocity at store, but now there is more of a stick approach that is coming quickly that you’ll be required to have these initiatives in place. And so, it is a little bit of a plug for PSC, but we really exist to help brands navigate these waters so that we can help them identify what is not only beneficial for the environment, but sustainability doesn’t have to cost more. You actually can do a lot of measures that will not only be sustainable but reduce your cost as a business. So we like to find win-wins for our brands and then provide a roadmap toward more difficult sustainability measures going forward.

Tom:                      That generational data is really interesting. It really says something about the future, doesn’t it?

Jim:                         It sure does.

Tom:                      All right, that’s Jim Lamancusa, executive director of the Pet Sustainability Coalition. Thank you, Jim.

Jim:                         Appreciate being here.

Tom:                      Hannah Tirrell-Wysocki, Pet Sustainability Coalition accreditation manager. Thank you, Hannah.

Hannah:                  Thank you.

Tom:                      And Alltech’s North American companion animal sales manager, Kami Grandeen. Thank you so much, Kami.

Kami:                      Thanks, Tom.

Tom:                      And for AgFuture, I’m Tom Martin.

Since 2006, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and Alltech, a global leader in agriculture and animal nutrition, have partnered to support the Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Awards that recognize the leadership potential of young members (under 35 years of age). As young agricultural journalists and communicators, they have the important role of sharing the stories of agriculture with the world.

IFAJ and Alltech offer 10 scholarship opportunities to attend the IFAJ Congress, held this year in Interlaken, Switzerland, in August. The winners also participate in a unique three-day professional development workshop immediately prior to the IFAJ Congress. The workshop emphasizes reporting skills and leadership training and includes agriculture tours.

The 2024 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders include:

• Alex Black, United Kingdom
• Emma Davies, Ghana
• Courtney Girgis, United States
• Kristina Hansén, Sweden
• Wiebke Hermann, Germany
• Brooke Littlewood, Australia
• Duncan Masiwa, South Africa
• Daniel Plaiasu, Romania
• Michaela Sandmayr, Austria
• Carola Urdangarin, Argentina

"Alltech is proud to partner with IFAJ to support the Young Leaders program, as we all share a commitment to supporting journalists who give voice to farmers and producers and ensure that agriculture stories continue to be told around the world," said Jenn Norrie, North American and European communications manager at Alltech.

“The Young Leaders program has helped agricultural journalism guilds and IFAJ grow for nearly two decades,” said IFAJ secretary-general, Addy Rossi. “The IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders program is more than just an award to recognize rising young stars in our industry—it provides training, networks and contagious energy to tomorrow's guild and federation leaders."

"Many of the officers and active volunteers in national guilds and IFAJ's governing bodies have been Young Leaders,” he added. “With its generous sponsorship and deep commitment to the future of agricultural journalism, Alltech has helped train a generation of world leaders."

For more information on IFAJ and the Young Leaders program, visit www.ifaj.org. For more on Alltech, visit www.alltech.com.

Alltech is pleased to announce a new marketing structure designed to better serve both the company’s customers and the needs of its internal teams. These new roles and responsibilities will allow for increased agility in meeting stakeholder needs while cultivating closer alignment and collaboration across Alltech’s U.S. business. 

The Alltech team members taking on new marketing roles and responsibilities include (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Nicole Bangasser, Western U.S. Marketing Specialist, Alltech

Bangasser has been with Alltech for two years. Her family has been active in many sectors of agriculture, with farms in South Dakota and Minnesota. Bangasser holds a degree in agri-business from South Dakota State University. She lives in Winnebago, Minnesota.

• Cece Blythe, Western U.S. Marketing Manager, Alltech

Blythe joined Alltech over three years ago. She also serves as the chair of the communications committee for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, as her county’s chair with the Kansas Livestock Association, and on several committees for the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Blythe holds a degree in agri-business and applied economics with a minor in production agriculture from Ohio State University. She lives in East Central Kansas on her husband’s family’s cattle ranch.

• Anna Burnett, U.S. Dairy Marketing Lead, Alltech

Burnett has been with Alltech for four and a half years and is based at Alltech’s global headquarters in Nicholasville, Kentucky. She previously served as the director of consumer affairs for the Kentucky Beef Council. A native of Central Kentucky, Burnett has had a passion for agriculture since childhood, when she showed lambs and was active in Future Farmers of America (FFA). Burnett holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in science with a focus on the economics of raising dairy heifers from the University of Kentucky. She lives in Frankfort, Kentucky.

• Leslee Burns, Western U.S. Marketing Specialist, Alltech

Burns has been with Alltech for almost 14 years out of its office in Brookings, South Dakota. She began her career at Alltech as an administrative assistant before being named the Midwest marketing assistant and, later, the regional marketing specialist for the South Dakota region. Burns grew up in Southwest Minnesota, where her family farmed and raised pigs and cattle. She holds a degree in digital arts and design from Dakota State University in Madison.

• Zach Gilles, Eastern U.S. Marketing Specialist, Alltech

Gilles first joined Alltech eight years ago. He is highly involved with his family’s diversified farming operation, where he has helped raise a herd of purebred registered Angus cattle, row-cropped corn and soybeans, and worked at his brother’s farm store selling local beef, pork and poultry products. Gilles is a member of the Kentucky & Daviess County Cattlemen’s Association and is also active in the state and Daviess County chapters of the Farm Bureau. He holds a degree in marketing from the University of Kentucky and lives in Owensboro, Kentucky.

• Bailey Irick, Marketing Lead, Show-Rite

Irick has been with Alltech since September 2022. She is based in Markle, Indiana, where she was born and raised on a family farm that submersed her in agriculture and fostered her love for the show livestock industry — specifically show pigs — from a very young age. Irick was an active member of 4-H, FFA, National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) and Team Purebred during her junior career. She is actively involved in agriculture on her family’s farm, in the show barn and through judging livestock shows. Irick holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a master’s degree in business administration from Western Illinois University.

• Mallory Minnick, U.S. Pork Marketing Lead, Alltech

Minnick joined Alltech in May 2022. She grew up on a diversified livestock and row crop farm in Logansport, Indiana, and she and her fiancé continue to be involved in the livestock industry. Minnick holds a degree in animal science from Purdue University. She lives in Lubbock, Texas.

• Alex Morcom, Head of Marketing, Ridley Block Operations

Morcom joined Ridley Block Operations, a member of the Alltech family of companies, in March 2023. She also serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation and is an alumnus of the OCA Cattlemen’s Leadership Academy. Morcom is based in Duncan, Oklahoma, where she and her husband own and operate a commercial cow-calf operation and raise cutting- and roping-bred quarter horses. In their cattle operation, Morcom and her husband focus on Angus and Angus-influenced cattle and offer ranch-raised beef direct to the consumer. Morcom holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in agriculture business from Stephen F. Austin State University.

• Mackenzie Peters, Marketing Specialist, Global Pet and Corporate Accounts, Alltech

Peters has been with Alltech for over six years. She is also a member of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Diamond Hats. Peters and her husband grow wheat for crop and cattle grazing, and they also have a cow/calf operation and breed and train registered border collie stock dogs. Peters received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary agriculture with a focus on business and leadership from Texas Tech University. She is based out of Union City, Oklahoma.

• Terran Ronne, Head of Marketing, Global Pet and Corporate Accounts, Alltech

Ronne has been with Alltech for nine years and previously served as the company’s Midwest marketing specialist and Western U.S. marketing manager. She is the current president of the the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Northern Prairie chapter and served as the treasurer of its board for four years. Ronne holds an undergraduate degree in public relations and journalism from North Dakota State University and a master’s degree in agriculture from Murray State University. She is based in the Alltech office in Brookings, South Dakota.

• Tieggan Rouleau, Marketing Lead, Lifestyle Feeds, Alltech

Rouleau joined Hubbard Feeds, an Alltech company, in October 2022 as a lifestyle sales representative based in Wyoming. She has owned horses her entire life and continues to compete at the professional level in team roping and breakaway roping. Rouleau received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an associate’s degree in marketing from Lethbridge College. A native of Canada, she now calls Buffalo, Wyoming, home.

• Katie Stenzel, Marketing Specialist, Feed and Block, Alltech

Stenzel joined the Alltech Feed Division in March 2018. She grew up near Wells, Minnesota, where her family grew corn and soybeans and operated a beef feedlot. She still lives near Wells today on her husband’s family’s crop farm. Stenzel holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications with a minor in marketing from South Dakota State University.

• Jena Lee Wagner, U.S. Beef Marketing Lead, Alltech

Wagner joined Alltech in February 2023. She is involved with her family’s Angus cattle operation and actively participates in the Montana Angus Association. Wagner received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Montana State University. She lives in Billings, Montana.

• William Wallis, Eastern U.S. Marketing Manager and U.S. Poultry Marketing Manager, Alltech

Wallis has been with Alltech for 12 years. He has served as the treasurer for the Carolina/Virginia chapter of NAMA for the past seven years. Wallis holds a degree in business marketing from Barry University in Miami, Florida. He lives in Apex, North Carolina.

• Celsey Weiss, Head of Marketing, Feed and Premix, Alltech

Weiss has served in other roles within the Alltech Feed Division over the past two years. She is also the marketing chair for Pepin County Dairy Promotion and serves on the marketing committee for the Dairy Girl Network. Weiss holds a degree in marketing communications with a minor in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She and her husband own and operate a 2,000-cow dairy with her husband’s family in Durand, Wisconsin.

• Shannon Zika, U.S. Digital Content Producer, Alltech

Zika has served in a variety of marketing roles for the Alltech Feed Division and its family of companies since June 2001. She holds a degree in marketing with a minor in business administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Zika is based in Mankato, Minnesota.

For more information, visit alltech.com.

*The 2023 numbers were adjusted on April 15, 2024 

World feed production remains steady, with a slight decrease of 0.01%* to 1.29 billion metric tons

Lower demand attributed in part to more efficient use of feed

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Global animal feed production remained steady in 2023 at 1.29 billion metric tons (BMT), a slight decrease of 140,000* metric tons (MMT) — or 0.01%* — from 2022’s estimates, according to the 2024 Agri-Food Outlook, released today by Alltech. The annual survey, now in its 13^th year, includes data from 142 countries and more than 27,000 feed mills.

The overall lower demand for feed was due, in part, to the more efficient use of feed made possible by intensive production systems that focus on using animal nutrition, farm management and other technologies to lower feed intake while producing the same amount of protein, or more. A slowdown in the overall production of animal protein, in response to tight margins experienced by many feed and animal protein companies, also contributed to lower feed demand. Changing consumption patterns caused by inflation and dietary trends, higher production costs and geopolitical tensions also influenced feed production in 2023.

Top 10 countries:

The top 10 feed-producing countries are China (262.71 MMT, +0.76%), the U.S. (238.09 MMT, ‑1.13%), Brazil (83.32 MMT, +1.84%), India (52.83 MMT, +13.43%), Mexico (40.42 MMT, +0.02%), Spain (36.22 MMT*, -3.28%*), Russia (35.46 MMT, +3.83%), Vietnam (24.15 MMT, -9.63%), Japan (23.94 MMT, -1.15%) and Türkiye (23.37 MMT, -11.48%). Together, the top 10 countries produced 63.1% of the world’s feed production (same as in 2022), and almost half of the world’s global feed production is concentrated in four countries: China, the U.S., Brazil and India.

Notable species results and outlook:

• Poultry experienced an increase in broiler feed production (386.33 MMT*, +12.81 MMT*, +3.43%*) and remained flat* for layers (171.29 MMT*, +0.01 MMT, 0%).
  • Broiler feed now accounts for 29.8%* of the total feed tonnage in the world thanks to a 3.43%* increase in overall tonnage in 2023. While this growth was not uniform across all regions, the poultry sector is poised to keep holding strong in 2024 thanks to a combination of regional successes and global market dynamics. Some of the biggest factors that will contribute to the resilience of the broiler sector include reduced costs for inputs, such as feed and energy, and increases in margins and profitability.
  • For layers, there are industry-wide efforts to optimize feed efficiency and to keep pace with changing dietary trends and new purchasing power. Some markets around the globe were significantly impacted by macroeconomic challenges and disease outbreaks, which can disrupt production cycles. Still, the general outlook for the layer industry remains positive thanks to its resilience in the face of difficult circumstances, when other protein sectors often struggle to adapt.
  • The poultry sector is poised for continued strength, driven by a blend of regional successes and global market dynamics. The broiler forecast remains optimistic thanks to lower input costs, increased industrial margins and shifting consumer behaviors. For layers, challenges persist, but there are pockets of resilience and growth.
• The global pig feed production sector faced many challenges in 2023, which led to an overall decrease in pig feed production of 1.26%* (323.04 MMT*, -4.14 MMT*).
  • Latin America stood out as the only region that achieved an increase in pig feed production in 2023, while Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America — which have traditionally been the top pig feed-producing regions in the world — all faced challenges. African swine fever (ASF) continues to wreak havoc on pig production in China and Southeast Asia, where repopulation efforts are slowly proceeding.
  • The trends highlight the complex relationship between economic factors, supply dynamics and disease management in the global pig feed industry. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for sustaining animal agriculture and ensuring food security.
• Dairy feed tonnage decreased by 1.12%* (127.92 MMT*, -1.45%*), primarily due to the high cost of feed combined with low milk prices, which led farmers to make strategic adjustments that included reducing their cow numbers and/or relying more on non-commercial feed sources.
  • In Europe, dairy producers will continue to grapple with stricter environmental policies in the years ahead, and they will need to find new ways to continue growing.
  • Asia-Pacific managed to buck the downward trend and emerged as the only region that increased its dairy feed tonnage in 2023. This growth was fueled by a continued increase in the consumption of milk products there, as well as an expansion of feed production in co-operatives.
  • This shift reflects the delicate balance between economic factors and the need to sustain dairy production. Lower feed costs and higher milk prices would help right the ship.

• Beef feed production decreased by 3.78%* (119.56 MMT*, -4.70 MMT*) globally — the most pronounced downward change among all species sectors last year. Changes in cattle cycles in the United States and stricter sustainability policies in Europe had major impacts, with the Asia-Pacific beef sector notably surpassing Europe’s in 2023.
  • The substantial decline in North America was the result of lingering droughts and high production costs, among other issues.
  • While the European and North American beef industries are expected to continue declining in 2024, growth is expected in China, Brazil and Australia — highlighting the complex dynamics and landscape of beef feed production around the world.
• The aquaculture sector experienced a decline of 4.41%* (52.09 MMT, -2.40 MMT*).
  • This decline was driven in part by a significant drop in China’s supply of aqua feed due to lower fish prices, which had a far-reaching impact.
  • Latin America grew by 0.27 MMT (3.87%). Despite adverse weather conditions in that region, the demand for aqua products is still strong in Latin America, which helped aqua producers there remain resilient.
• The global pet feed industry continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace of 2.66%* (35.44 MMT*, +0.92 MMT*) in 2023. Demand for high-quality pet products and services remains high from pet owners who want only the best for their animal companions.
  • The Latin American and European* markets were the primary drivers of this growth.
• The equine feed industry experienced a decrease of 4.69%* (7.98 MMT, -0.39 MMT*) in 2023.
  • The top challenges in the equine sector include high labor and material prices.
  • The top technologies impacting the sector are biosecurity, microchipping, genetics and nutritional solutions.
  • Survey respondents said the biggest opportunities for nutritional solutions are gut health management and feed efficiency.
  • Equine feed is expected to decrease both in price and in volume during the coming year.

Notable regional results:

• North America saw a decrease of 2.8 MMT (259.26 MMT, -1.1%), with beef feed tonnage down significantly. The pig and dairy sectors also slipped slightly, but the broiler, layer and pet sectors more than made up the difference. Feed tonnage in the broiler sector was up nearly 2.9%.
• Latin America experienced growth in 2023 by 2.46 MMT (200.67 MMT, +1.24%). Despite high production costs, geopolitical tensions and changing consumer behavior due to economic reasons, the region continues to be among the global growth leaders*, mainly because of its export-driven aquaculture, poultry and pork markets.
• Europe continued its downward trend in feed production, with a decrease of 7.59 MMT* (261.89 MMT*, -2.82%*) due to issues that included the invasion in Ukraine and the spread of animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza (AI).
• Asia-Pacific led feed production growth in 2023, with an increase of 6.54 MMT (475.33 MMT, +1.4%). Feed production growth in the region’s ruminant sectors offset a setback in the aqua sector. The region is home to several of the top 10 feed-producing countries, including China, India, Vietnam and Japan.
• Africa experienced continued but slower growth with an increase of 1.94%*, nearly 1 MMT to total 51.42 MMT.
• The Middle East saw a slight decrease of 0.12 MMT (35.93 MMT, -0.32%).
• Oceania grew 3.71% or 0.39 MMT to total 10.78 MMT.

Alltech works together with feed mills and industry and government entities around the world to compile data and insights to provide an assessment of feed production each year. Compound feed production and prices were collected by Alltech’s global sales team and in partnership with local feed associations in the first quarter of 2024. These figures are estimates and are intended to serve as an information resource for industry stakeholders.

To access more data and insights from the 2024 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook, including an interactive global map, visit alltech.com/agri-food-outlook.

[BANGKOK, Thailand] — Alltech recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Thailand alongside more than 120 industry partners and friends, including representatives of prominent agri-food companies.

In 1998, Alltech entered the Thai market. It was a time of financial crisis within the region yet Alltech could see the market’s potential and its increasingly important role in global food supply. Alltech Thailand began with two team members, and today more than 50 Alltech team members are dedicated to serving the country’s agriculture sector. An initial facility and warehouse in Thailand were established in 2006 and production operations were relocated to the current facility in Samutprakarn in 2015 to meet growing demand in both the Thai and Southeast Asian markets.

Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, reflected on the company’s long-standing commitment to the country and its partnerships with Thailand-based customers.

“Within Alltech, we are committed to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty. Thailand represents some of our most enduring examples of this effort,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Together, with our customers, we have advanced the efficient and sustainable production of nutrition and are cultivating a prosperous world of abundance through Thailand’s agri-food sector.”

Steadfast in its commitment to providing smarter and sustainable solutions for customers, including feed mills, integrators and animal farms, Alltech continues to invest in local production while leveraging the best of its global network and knowledge to the benefits of its customers. These efforts have catalyzed rapid growth in Thailand’s agricultural industry, positioning the nation as a key player on the global stage.

Over the past quarter century, Thailand’s agricultural sector has prioritized enhancing efficiency and productivity, advancing aquaculture and livestock production, fostering value addition for agricultural products, and ensuring food security.

Alltech has forged deep connections and established significant strategic partnerships within the local industry. Its long-standing relationships with market leaders have allowed Alltech — and its customers — to grow and navigate the evolving agri-food industry.

On Feb. 15, Alltech finalized an agreement with Thai Wah Public Co., an agri-food business with operations in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and India, to collaborate on reducing carbon in Asian agri-food with precision nutrition, digital farming, waste management and carbon footprint assessments. This collaboration is the second formal partnership in two years to focus on sustainable farming in Thailand. On March 9, 2023, Alltech formed a partnership with the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) to pioneer nutrition innovation and sustainable dairy farming, leveraging global expertise and technologies to expand and develop dairy and beef cattle production in Thailand.

Dedicated to ensuring customers’ competitiveness and to driving innovation within the industry, Alltech Thailand remains committed to educating customers through seminars and workshops, enriching their knowledge and keeping them at the forefront of leading agri-food research and technologies.

Alltech Thailand and its 5,000 Alltech colleagues around the world share a commitment to supporting the agri-food sector in providing nutrition for all while supporting local economies and revitalizing the planet’s natural resources.

“Our devoted local team remains ready to provide unparalleled expertise to the Thai market,” said Jonathan Forrest Wilson, president of Alltech Asia-Pacific. “This reflects our dedication to forging long term mutually beneficial collaborations and contributing to the thriving business landscape in Thailand. As we celebrate this milestone, our commitment to lasting partnerships remains at the forefront of our mission.” 

On January 1, 2024, AAFCO officially implemented its new Pet Food Model Regulations, marking a significant milestone in the industry. These regulations, in development since 2015, had undergone rigorous scrutiny from various stakeholders and involved input from the AAFCO Pet Food Committee, consumer surveys and focus groups, as well as discussions with regulatory agencies, professional associations, and industry trade organizations.

The overarching goal was to bring about a modernization of pet food and specialty pet food labels, emphasizing clearer communication with consumers.

Four major label changes:

1. Pet Nutrition Facts Box

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of the Pet Nutrition Facts Box, which closely resembles the nutrition facts panel found on labels of human food. By conveying essential and easily understandable nutritional information in a standardized format, this box helps consumers make informed choices about their pets’ nutrition. It includes details such as serving size, calorie content, nutrient guarantees, total carbohydrate values, and an AAFCO nutrition adequacy statement.

The Specialty Pet Nutrition Facts Box is specifically tailored for specialty pet food products. While it includes much of the same information as the standard box, it does not require a calorie statement. However, it does have to include a nutritional adequacy statement, giving consumers clarity regarding the suitability of the product for their pets’ specific needs.

2. Product Purpose Statement:

Nutritional Adequacy Claims, which attest to the nutritional completeness of a pet food product, must now appear prominently in the lower third of the label’s principal display panel. This placement makes it easier for consumers to identify the intended life stage and purpose of a product, further enabling them to confidently choose the right products for their pets’ needs.

Veterinary diets must designate the species for which they are intended, such as “Veterinary Diet for Cats” or “Veterinary Diet for Dogs.” Treats will also need to be identified by species, as in “Dog Treat” or “Hamster Treat.”

Pet food supplements, which are not complete diets and are only intended to supply specific nutrients, must identify their purpose and species name, as in “Species Food Supplement: Dog.”

3. Ingredient Statement:

The new AAFCO regulations include updates to ingredient statement, to enhance consumer understanding and ensure transparency and consistency across products.

Of particular note is the clarification of naming conventions for meat, poultry and fish ingredients. Additionally, there are new requirements for listing sugar sources and vitamin/mineral premixes using common or usual names, as listed in the AAFCO Official Publication.

4. Handling and Storage Instructions:

While handling and storage instructions are optional, they are encouraged under the new regulations. If included, these instructions must be clearly readable and presented under a bold header. The regulations also specify guidelines for the use of graphics to support handling and storage instructions, so that consumers can easily understand how to properly handle and store their pet food products.

Adoption and enforcement

The implementation of these new regulations will be overseen by state regulatory agencies, with AAFCO encouraging uniform and timely adoption to ensure consistency across jurisdictions. To facilitate this process, AAFCO has recommended that state feed regulatory programs exercise enforcement discretion for six years following the availability of the printed version of the 2024 AAFCO Official Publication.

Furthermore, AAFCO will hold workshops to educate stakeholders on the new regulations. The next workshop will be at Petfood Forum on April 29, 2024.

About the author: 

Dr. Randall Johnson has more than 40 years of experience as a consultant to the pet food, livestock feed and aquaculture industries. A registered professional animal scientist, Dr. Johnson regularly offers advisory services for the Pet Food Institute’s Nutrition Task Force, as well as its International Trade and Regulatory Affairs committees.

Dr. Johnson is a diplomate of the American College of Animal Nutrition. He has previously served on the staff of the University of Missouri, where he also completed a post-doctoral fellowship, and as an adjunct associate professor in the Arizona State University School of Agribusiness and Environmental Resources.

Understanding contamination risk in feed and ingredients

There is growing awareness of the presence of trace heavy metals in the feed industry and their potential impacts on animal and human health.

Trace metals are naturally occurring elements, used in many industries and needed for regular body function in animals and humans. Zinc, iron and copper, for example, are essential in trace amounts. However, they can be toxic even at moderately elevated levels, and heavy metal poisoning occurs when too much of a particular metal is absorbed by the body. Mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic are the most common metals to cause exposure at toxic levels.

The general population can be exposed to heavy metal contaminants through drinking water, dust, and fumes and from a variety of food sources (Atafar et al., 2010). Toxic heavy metals can be transferred into edible animal products such as meat, milk and eggs, and thus be passed into the human food chain. High levels of exposure to these compounds in humans can be toxic, with many having carcinogenic properties.

The buildup of heavy metals within animal protein sources can be attributed to the contamination of certain feed ingredients (Vremane et al., 1986; Spragg, 2008), with the potential for contamination originating from:

• Exposure to groundwater and soil with high levels of heavy metals during crop production (transfer into plant material)
• Bioaccumulation higher along the food chain (e.g., mercury in carnivores)
• Raw material processing (e.g., for inorganic mineral extraction and recycling)
• Cross-contamination during processing or transport, or in the feed mill

Understanding the risks within the feed industry

The past decade has seen growing scrutiny regarding the potential for heavy metal contamination in animal feeds. This is due to a number of high-profile food safety alerts. For example, in both 2020 and 2021, batches of dog foods from Europe were found to contain excessive levels of cadmium, and inorganic mineral sources destined for the feed industry are often reported by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) Portal.

Other parts of the world, however, do not have such advanced monitoring or alert systems, and much of the risk may be missed or underestimated.

The Alltech 2023 Asia-Pacific Toxic Heavy Metal Survey

An ongoing effort to quantify the risk of toxic heavy metals to the feed industry has been carried out by Alltech in the Asia-Pacific region. Alltech initiated the survey in 2010 and has issued nine comprehensive reports so far, which have become essential benchmarks for assessing contamination risks in animal feed and trace minerals.

The survey analyzed 735 samples collected from 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, bringing the total number of samples analyzed to over 7,000 since the survey was launched in 2010.

Consistent with previous years, the survey evaluated lead, arsenic and cadmium levels, applying the European Union’s maximum allowable thresholds to determine contamination risks. The analysis encompassed complete feed, premix, and inorganic and organic trace mineral samples, spanning various agricultural categories including pig, poultry, ruminant, aquaculture and pet.

When completed, the survey revealed a contamination level of 14% across all these Asia-Pacific samples, with analysis showing that significant contamination was found in both organic trace mineral and inorganic mineral sources.

The survey highlighted that poultry premix exhibited the highest contamination levels at 13%, followed by aquaculture (9%) and ruminant premix samples (8%). In complete feed, swine diets demonstrated the highest contamination at 14%, followed by ruminant (9%) and poultry (5%). Certain samples displayed heavy metal levels surpassing EU regulations.

The collective results of all Alltech Asia-Pacific Toxic Heavy Metal Surveys since 2010 have revealed a persistent risk of elevated contamination in Asia-Pacific samples, with an average rate of 19%. This indicates serious and ongoing risks to both animal health and the safety of the entire food chain.

Managing feed contamination risk with reputable suppliers

To reduce the risk, it is imperative that feed and animal companies source their trace minerals from reputable sources. This involves working with companies that have robust quality systems, such as the Alltech Q+™ program, that focus on product safety, consistency and traceability for high-risk materials such as mineral sources. If we can reduce the risk of heavy metal contaminants entering the food chain, that will have flow-on effects to the human food chain.

For more information about the survey, please contact your local Alltech representative or email knowyourminerals@alltech.com.

About the author: 

Tara Tiller is the global project manager of corporate accounts and companion animals for Alltech. In this role, she oversees the growth of Alltech's pet and equine business as a member of the company's larger companion animal team.

Tara first joined Alltech as its quality assurance manager for the Asia-Pacific region. In that role, which was based in Thailand, she led the establishment of production facilities in Thailand, China, India and Vietnam and traveled extensively across Asia. She subsequently joined Alltech’s Mineral Management division, where she provided technical support and offered consultations, both internally and externally, across Asia-Pacific on trace mineral nutrition, with a focus on Alltech’s organic trace mineral range.

In 2018, Tara was named Alltech's global project manager. That role, which was based in Bangkok, combined her previous technical support responsibilities with the management of Alltech’s mineral projects and programs globally. In her current position on the company's companion animal team, she continues to develop and promote solutions and services related to mineral management.

Tara received a degree in animal science and aquaculture from the University of Tasmania in Australia.

Alltech is proud to continue to partner with the Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA) Mentorship Program.  Applications are now open for new mentors of any gender and for female mentees from across the global food and agriculture sector. Now in its fourth year, the free-to-join program is dedicated to supporting women across the global food and agriculture sector by providing invaluable mentorship opportunities and has proven to be a beacon of support for women seeking guidance, advice and networking opportunities in their careers.

Findings from the WFA survey and ongoing feedback from all levels of the food and agriculture sector consistently suggest that a hurdle to greater success for women in the global agri-food industry is a lack of mentorship opportunities. To tackle this issue, WFA launched its Mentorship Program.

WFA matches applicants based on their preferences, which can include gender of mentor, areas of expertise, language and industry sector, and offers opportunities for women in food and agriculture to develop meaningful industry connections. Since the inception of the program, WFA has received an overwhelming response, with 3,051 applications from individuals seeking mentorship and 1,691 industry professionals offering their mentorship services. This remarkable level of engagement underscores the program's significance in addressing the need for mentorship opportunities within the food and agriculture sector.

To date, the program has facilitated over 562 pairings, connecting mentees with experienced mentors who provide invaluable insights and support. These pairings have spanned various roles and sectors within the industry, ranging from CEOs of agribusinesses to small-scale farmers, academics, and ag-tech professionals.

“Our partnership with the Women in Food & Agriculture mentorship program is an investment not only in the lives of women, but in the future of agriculture as the industry most integral to the nourishment and vitality of our planet,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech.

Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, global chair of WFA, expressed her enthusiasm for the program's continued success, stating, "We are delighted to see the overwhelming response to the WFA Mentorship Program, which underscores the importance of mentorship in empowering women in the food and agriculture industry. With Alltech's ongoing support, we are confident that the program will continue to make a positive impact, fostering diversity and inclusion across the sector."

Orla McAleer, chief culture officer at Alltech, reiterated the company's commitment to the program, stating, “I am excited to reaffirm our support and sponsorship of the WFA Mentorship Program in 2024. We believe in championing the advancement of women in this vital sector and helping to cultivate a more vibrant, equitable and diverse agricultural community. As a mentor and advisor to the program, I understand the value and impact the mentorship connection brings to everyone involved."

Alltech believes that inclusion cultivates creativity, drives innovation and is essential to the company’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^TM. In 2019, Alltech selected Gender Equality as one of the nine United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to which the company committed to advancing.

Applications are now open for the 2024 WFA Mentorship Program, supported by Alltech, to individuals seeking mentorship as well as industry professionals interested in offering their mentorship services. The program welcomes applications from across the global food and agriculture sector, and applicants will be personally matched based on their preferences and professional objectives. For more information and to apply to be a mentor or mentee, visit https://wfa-initiative.com/mentorship-program/.

Dr. Colm Moran has been appointed chief regulatory officer at Alltech, a global leader in agriculture with more than 5,000 team members serving customers in over 120 countries.

Moran has worked with Alltech for more than 20 years, most recently serving as director of European regulatory affairs and as chairman of Alltech’s crisis management team.

“Alltech’s regulatory strategy is moving into new strength under Colm’s leadership,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “This positions Alltech firmly at the leading edge in delivering innovation to our customers.”

Moran has worked in the feed industry for 23 years and has extensive experience in zootechnical studies for registration of feed additives for livestock and poultry species. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from University of Wales, Cardiff, and three master’s degrees in food biotechnology, food regulatory affairs, and brewing and distilling — from University of Strathclyde, University of Ulster/University College Dublin, and Heriott-Wyatt University, respectively. He also has a Ph.D. in fermentation microbiology from University of Plymouth.

Moran has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles in his subject area. He has received two international patents and has presented at numerous international conferences. He is based in Marseille, France.

Moran serves on the board of directors for the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF).