The American and European feed industries, represented by the American Feed Industry Assn. (AFIA) and the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC), have renewed their longstanding partnership to increase mutual cooperation on sustainable feed production, feed safety management, communication, trade and pre-competitive research.

The memorandum of understanding, signed during FEFAC’s 60th anniversary event on June 6, is expected to generate significant synergies for the respective member associations and feed companies, offering global joint project and partnership opportunities, the organizations said.

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 that help reduce the environmental impacts of feed and livestock production, while promoting the highest level of feed safety management and biosecurity.

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

AFIA president and chief executive officer Joel G. Newman and AFIA board chairman Tim Belstra made the following statement upon signing the memorandum: “Our 15-year partnership with FEFAC has been a model for global collaboration and we are excited to expand our work together. 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.”

FEFAC president Nick Major and secretary general Alexander Döring added, “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 EU 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 global level with the setting up of the first International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) in 2008 in Atlanta, Ga., co-hosted by the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization and IFIF. Newman is the first “non-European” feed industry expert to receive the FEFAC honorary membership award.

FEFAC represents 23 national associations in 23 EU member states as well as associations in Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia, Russia and Norway with observer/associate member status.

Founded in 1909, AFIA is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal food industry and its suppliers. The organization’s membership is comprised of more than 680 domestic and international companies that represent the total feed industry — manufacturers of commercial and integrated feed and pet food, ingredient suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, industry support and equipment manufacturers.