The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has released its 2026 annual update and five-year strategic plan, outlining the organisation’s vision for supporting the sustainability and resilience of the animal feed and pet food supply chain, according to the institute.
The annual update highlights a year of progress in research, education and outreach. A key focus was the vitamin and amino acid supply chain assessment, described by IFEEDER as the first evidence-based evaluation of US dependence on vitamin and amino acid imports across the food supply chain. According to the institute, 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 strengthening the US animal food ingredient supply chain.
“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.”
In addition to expanding the vitamin and amino acid research, IFEEDER 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 US ingredient data in the Global Feed Lifecycle Assessment Institute database; and supporting updated nutrient requirements for poultry and swine. The institute also launched Project Warehouse to provide American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) committees with a formal pathway for submitting new research, education and sustainability ideas.
According to the institute, the annual update also provides a preview of their latest project examining key chemicals used in vitamin and amino acid production.
The IFEEDER strategic plan establishes 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.
“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 US$86,000 to support the Equipment Manufacturers Committee Scholarship Fund and the Kenny Berg Research and Education Fund in fiscal 2025–26. In addition, the institute’s second annual Day of Giving raised more than US$21,000 from over 120 donors, doubling the amount raised in 2025.
The 2026 annual update and strategic plan are available at ifeeder.org.
