IFEEDER Newsletter: Volume 9, Issue 5

May 22, 2024

Updated Pet Food Data to Be Made Available

Data is an invaluable asset. In our work lives, we can use it for making more informed decisions, identifying trends or tailoring communications to various audiences. For the pet food industry and other stakeholders, the “Pet Food Production and Ingredient Analysis” report has been a key data resource for those activities. 

Did you know, in 2018, approximately 9.8 billion tons of pet food were sold at a value of $30.3 billion? Farm and mill-based ingredients (i.e., ingredients from grains and oilseeds, dairy products, egg products, fruits, nuts, root crops, sweeteners, tree oils and vegetables) represented the largest volume of products used in pet food at 4 million tons, followed by meat and poultry products at 1.83 million tons and rendered protein meals at 1.5 million tons.

This data and more will be made available in our updated research report, but to make that happen, we need your support.

This summer, the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) is collaborating with stakeholders on an update to the 2019 dataset. IFEEDER needs $48,000 in contributions to fund our portion of the project. As with other IFEEDER projects, no contribution is too small or too big; we simply ask you to consider a contribution relative to the value of the effort to your organization. Contributors will be invited to serve on the project’s advisory group to review and provide input throughout the effort.

Have you used data from the 2019 pet food report in your work? Will your organization contribute? Contact me or donate here.

Ingredient Data Request: Nutrient Requirements for Swine Report 

We are pleased that the expert panel writing the 12th Nutrient Requirements of Swine report is actively seeking ingredient composition data from the feed industry to inform its upcoming edition. This comes after IFEEDER, a project sponsor, provided industry considerations for the report and emphasized the importance of engaging the animal feed industry throughout the process to create a more comprehensive and actionable resource. Alongside traditional nutrients, the panel is interested in data related to environmental sustainability and additional fiber components. For those interested in contributing primary data, know that all submitted data will be kept confidential and not be disclosed individually. Submissions are due by June 15 and instructions can be obtained by emailing swineinfo@iastate.edu. 

In the Media

Sustaining the Herd Podcast: In this podcast, hosted by Settje Agriservices and Engineering, Inc., Moody discusses the role of animal feed and feed production when it comes to sustainable food production. “At its heart, sustainability is about risk management. If we understand what issues are important to us, sustainability is about understanding those risks and doing something about them.” Listen Now>>

IFEEDER Board Discusses Strategic Plan, Upcoming Projects

IFEEDER held its Board of Trustees meeting last week to discuss its current projects and install new Board leadership and trustees. In the next year, IFEEDER plans to work on several projects in accordance with its strategic plan, including adding new resources to the Animal Food Industry Sustainability Toolkit, updating the U.S. datasets on U.S. feed and pet food ingredient consumption and supporting other research and education needs. Read More>>

IFEEDER Fodder

Navigating ESG: A Corporate Journey

By: Lara Moody

At the recent International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), the American Feed Industry Association hosted an educational session called, “Feed Your ESG: How Feed Will Help Hit Sustainability Targets.” Mike Gauss, president of KENT Nutrition Group, who shared insights into his company’s efforts to advance Environmental, Social and Governance in practice. Read Now>>

Fostering the Next Generation of Feed Industry Professionals

By: Taylor Lekin

Last fall, Iowa State University unveiled the new ISU Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex. After this facility's inauguration, ISU launched a traineeship program, providing students with invaluable, well-rounded industry experience. I spoke with Dirk Maier, Ph.D., the complex’s director, to learn more about this innovative approach to hands-on learning for the future of the feed industry. Read Now>>

Should What Matters to Dairy Executives Also Matter to Feed?

By: Lara Moody

In a recent report, McKinsey & Company and the International Dairy Foods Association shared findings from their annual survey of dairy executives. Their responses showed that while dairy executives are excited about the opportunity for growth (expected to be 4% annually through 2027, primarily from cheese and yogurt sales) and product innovation, sustainability keeps them up at night and has moved to the center of the conversation. Read Now>>