The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has released its 2026 annual update and five-year strategic plan. While the annual update highlights a year of progress in research, education and outreach, the strategic plan outlines the organization’s vision for supporting the sustainability and resilience of the animal feed and pet food supply chain in the years ahead.
“This past year demonstrated the value of turning credible research into practical information that the animal food industry and its partners can use to make informed decisions,” said Lara Moody, IFEEDER executive director. “Our new strategic plan builds on that momentum, providing a clear path for IFEEDER to deepen collaboration, pursue high-impact research and ensure our work continues to address the industry’s most pressing needs.”
The annual update focuses on IFEEDER’s most impactful work over the past year, such as the vitamin and amino acid supply chain assessment, the first evidence-based evaluation of U.S. dependence on vitamin and amino acid imports across the food supply chain. The report and six supporting species reports have generated more than 534 media citations and informed the animal food industry’s engagement with Congress, federal agencies and other stakeholders on the importance of strengthening the U.S. animal food ingredient supply chain.
In addition to expanding the vitamin and amino acid research throughout the year, IFEEDER also continued advancing sustainability and animal nutrition projects. Current efforts include fostering partnerships across the feed, food, beverage and pet food value chains to advance shared sustainability goals; improving U.S. ingredient data in the Global Feed Lifecycle Assessment Institute database; and supporting updated nutrient requirements for poultry and swine. IFEEDER also launched its Project Warehouse to provide the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) committees with a formal pathway for submi tting new research, education and sustainability ideas for IFEEDER consideration. The annual update provides a sneak preview of IFEEDER’s latest project examining key chemicals used in vitamin and amino acid production.
IFEEDER’s new strategic plan looks to the future of the organization by establishing three overarching goals: serve as a trusted and valued partner, deliver actionable research and practical resources, and build operating capacity to support disciplined growth and collaboration. The plan will guide IFEEDER’s efforts to expand partnerships, pursue high-impact projects and translate research into resources that support the animal food industry.
“IFEEDER has demonstrated the value that credible research and industry collaboration can deliver, and our new strategic plan challenges us to build on that momentum,” said Dan Meagher, chair of the IFEEDER Board of Trustees and president and CEO of Novus International, Inc. “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.”
As part of their commitment to fostering the future of the industry, IFEEDER and AFIA committees raised more than $86,000 to support the Equipment Manufacturers Committee Scholarship Fund and the Kenny Berg Research and Education Fund in fiscal 2025-26. In addition, IFEEDER’s second annual Day of Giving raised more than $21,000 from over 120 donors, doubling the amount raised in 2025.
IFEEDER’s 2026 annual update and strategic plan are now available at ifeeder.org. To learn more about IFEEDER’s research, resources and opportunities to get involved, visit ifeeder.org.
