The American Feed Industry Association is committed to ensuring its members’ voices are amplified, interests are represented and opportunities for engagement are limitless. Farm Reporter Maci Carter got the chance to speak with its Director of Global Affairs, Mallory Gaines.
One less mentioned sector being impacted by the trade war is the pet food industry. “We do import some ingredients, and we do import some complete pet food as well, occasionally,” Gaines noted. “If there are tariffs, prices are going to go up and consumers are going to see that when feeding their pets at home.”
She detailed that most pet and animal feeds used domestically are manufactured in the United States, but some ingredients, such as vitamins, are imported from other countries so tariffs could have an impact on pet and animal feed prices over the coming months.
Increasing market access to other countries for pet and animal food exports is a top priority for Gaines and her team at AFIA. “I do want to make sure that USDA, FDA, and USTR are ready to increase exports for us and engage with other countries for market access,” she said.
She detailed how due to its use of co- and bi-products, the animal feed industry has a great sustainability story. “There are foods that would be in a landfill if they weren’t in animal or pet food, and it’s not that they are bad foods, it’s just that maybe it is a tomato that isn’t the right color and isn’t going to sell at the store. They can use that product in animal and pet food,” she explained.
For more information about the American Feed Industry Association, click here.
