Press Room

IFIF Press Releases

Congress Urged To Take Steps To Stabilize Commodities Markets

ARLINGTON, VA., July 17, 2008 – Members of Congress should act to provide stability to futures markets that specialize in agricultural commodities, according to a letter the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) sent to House and Senate leaders this week.

In the letter, AFIA President and CEO Joel G. Newman urges members of Congress to end an exemption, granted in 2000, that permits Wall Street banks to use speculative position limits for hedging over-the-counter swap transactions. Rolling back the exemption would return all speculative investors to the same limits and close loopholes for swaps and electronic exchanges. read more...

UN invites private sector to Rome summit to help solve food crisis

ROME_Alongside government leaders, international bankers and humanitarian aid officials, lobbyists from the seed to feed industry were taking part in strategy sessions at this week's U.N. food crisis summit.

Farm-field industries are eager to be part of the United Nations' push to dramatically boost food production worldwide to combat hunger amid food prices predicted to stay high for years.

U.N. officials are happy to have them aboard. read more...

Brazil and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding to focus on mutual trade and technological developments in the feed sector

San Paolo (May 29, 2008) - The Brazilian Feed Industry Association Sindiraçoes, Brazil and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to establish a closer relationship regarding commercial issues, as well as to share technical expertise and to recognize both regulatory set of feed sanitary laws and regulations, reports Dr Ariovaldo Zanni, CEO of the.

The party from Brazil was composed of feed producers, the official representative of the Agriculture Department and Sindiracoes executives, Mr Mario Sergio Cutait, President and Dr Zanni, CEO from the Brazil feed industry Sindiraçoes met with counterparts of the China National Feed Quality Control Center and executives from China Feed Industry Association.

Among several actions already agreed, the Brazilian Feedstuff Surveillance Department (DFIP/SDA/MAPA) has arranged for a team of agents to visit Beijing and other provinces in order to interact with Chinese agents of the National Feed Quality Control Center. read more...

High Level Conference on World Food Security: The Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy‘Fertilizers, Feeds and Seeds in World Food Security’ - PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM

A statement by Fred Stephens, President, International Feed Industry Federation - German Room, FAO, Rome, Italy - Tuesday June 3, 2008 (13:15-14:45) - Rome (June 3, 2008) - The International Feed Industry Federation [IFIF] is comprised of international associations and corporate entities representing over 80% of the world's commercial feed production.

Obviously, animal feed is a significant consumer of grain; with world feed production estimated to be 900 million tonnes. Approximately 80% of the world's population live on less then US$3000 a year, and income growth tends to be allocated to improving diet ahead of anything else.

The key drivers for meat demand are global population and the rise in per-capita income [GDP] in developing regions. Lennart Bage, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD], in a recent statement, summed up well the present and future food outlook: "The challenges of a growing population and rising demand for a richer diet, such as in India and China, will not go away." read more...

Brazil breaks the 50 million tonne mark

Dr Ariovaldo Zanni, CEO of the Brazilian Feed Industry Association San Paolo, Brazil (January 4, 2008) - According to IFIF, the International Feed Industry Federation, Brazil is the forth-largest worldwide feed producer, following USA, EU and China.

“Despite forecast that feed demand would rise up to 6.5% in early 2007, we see it has risen above by over 10% (to over 53 million MT and almost U$13 billion in revenues), driven mainly by the strong performance of meat ‘pack exports of poultry, pork and beef as global customers have demanded more animal protein. Increased domestic consumption has benefited from this economical scenario encouraged by lower interest rate, GDP growth slightly above the level expected and higher worker incomes.” read more...

South African feed association curbs regulatory costs that fuel food prices

Johannesburg, August 6, 2007 - AFMA, the animal feed manufacturers association of South Africa, is working towards the reduction of regulatory cost on the Animal Feed Industry which could have amounted to R 190 million, by that enabling down stream customers in the value chain to stay competitive.

According to the General Manager of AFMA, Mr De Wet Boshoff, AFMA has since May 2007 taken on two major challenges influencing the cost structure of the Animal Feed Industry, i.e. the removal of the import duty on soy oilcake and disputing the sudden safeguard duty of 160% slammed onto industry on the importation of Lysine, again adding to the cost of animal feed. read more...

Industry-founded coalition scores major win over animal rights and eco terrorism with landmark law

Arlington, November 16, 2007 - The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) applauded yesterday’s unanimous approval by the House of Representatives of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), S. 3880. House action followed approval by the Senate on September 30. The bill now goes to the President who is expected to sign it.

AFIA, a founding member of the Farm Animal Welfare Coalition (FAWC), an ad hoc Washington, DC coalition of the nation’s largest feed, farmer, rancher and biotechnology groups, played a key role in promoting the landmark legislation. FAWC was joined by 175 national, regional and state agricultural and science organizations along with related animal industry groups across the country. read more...

Worldwide Congress on Sustainability and Food Safety to he held in Brazil

FAO/ONU, IFIF and Sindirações will discuss, among other subjects, environmental management, social responsibility, food safety and welfare Sao Paulo, October 10, 2006 - After the great success of the first edition, in 2005, FAO/ONU (Food and Agricultural Organization) and IFIF (International Feed Industry Federation) will hold in Brazil, for the second time, the “Global Feed & Food Congress”, event organised by Sindirações (National Syndicate of the Animal Feed Industry in Brazil). The event will take place in Sao Paulo, from 16 to 18 April 2007, and has as main theme “Sustainability: Producing for everyone's welfare with quality, safety, responsibility, preserving the environment”.

As in its first edition, participants from producing and consuming countries, especially from United States, European Union, Latin America and China, will attend the second “Global Feed & Food Congress”. “In 2005, the Congress was a first step on the way to more practical solutions. With the production of safe foods and the use of Good Manufacturing Practices, respecting the environment, we will diminish waste, improve the quality and the price of food, create more jobs and increase both internal and external market demands”, says Mario Sergio Cutait, president of Sindirações. read more...

Victory For Brazil In Food Safety

EurepGAP finally recognizes measures on feed and food safety as well as on social responsibility conveyed by the Good Manufacturing Practices program of SINDIRAÇÕES November 9, 2006: São Paulo – SINDIRAÇÕES, the Brazilian Syndicate of the Animal Feed Industry, has just experienced a historical victory: the recognition of the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) program as the equivalent of the EurepGAP – the protocol of good agricultural practices of the European association of major food retailers responsible for the certification of farms which produce fruit, coffee, flowers, cattle, pigs, chickens, fish and food for animals. It is the only program worldwide to be recognized by Eurep, and the only one in Brazil with regards to food safety. read more...

Financial Support for Young Scientists

November 7, 2006 -The IFIF is supporting the Professor Tielen Fund Foundation (PTF), set up by the organising committee of the Xth Congress on Animal Hygiene held in Maastricht in 2000, to attract young scientists to its Congresses. read more...

President of the Polish Association of Feed Producers passes away

September 19, 2006 - The President of the Polish Association of Feed Producers, Leszek Iracki, passed away on August 25, 2006. Mr Iracki will be remembered for his professionalism and passion for the creation and development of the modern Polish feed and poultry sectors. read more...

International Feed Industry Federation works with FAO & WTO to develop global feed manual

October 28, 2005 - The first draft of a global feed manual has been forwarded to national feed associations around the world for comment and contributions. read more...

Feed industry undertakes harmonisation quest

March 31, 2005 - Feed industry representatives from the top four feed manufacturing countries - the USA, EU, China and Brazil - have accepted appointments to a new technical committee that addresses greater regulatory harmonisation in feed and feeding programmes and practices, established by the International Feed Industry Federation. read more...

Feed industry leaders appoint IFIF President and Board

October 25, 2005 - At its 18th Annual Assembly held in Rome, Italy, the International Feed Industry Federation reappointed Fred Stephens as President, a post he has held for the past three years. Mr Stephens, is recently retired from PCS Sales. read more...

Feed industry leaders to meet in China

April 7, 2006 - Leaders of the world's feed industry will be meeting at the beginning of June in Nanjing, China to discuss food and feed safety issues with a particular emphasis on harmonisation and training. read more...