ITALY – The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have reaffirmed their partnership during their 23rd annual meeting, focusing on critical issues shaping safe, sustainable feed and food production.
The meeting in Rome brought together IFIF delegates representing over 80% of global compound feed production and FAO officials, including Thanawat Tiensin, FAO’s Assistant Director General and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division.
In his opening remarks, Tiensin emphasised the pivotal role of the feed and livestock sectors in driving sustainable agricultural transformation.
He underscored how livestock production underpins global agrifood systems by providing essential nutrition and creating economic opportunities.
The discussions highlighted FAO’s vision for sustainable transformation in livestock production, addressing challenges such as feed loss and waste, feed conversion efficiency, and reducing environmental impacts and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
A key focus of the meeting was the alignment of global standards and innovations to advance feed and livestock sustainability. The discussions covered a range of topics, including:
Animal Feed in Sustainable Livestock: IFIF’s “Road to 2050” initiative was presented as a strategic dialogue platform to ensure feed is recognised as a solution for sustainable livestock production.
Codex Alimentarius Standards: Regulatory advancements in feed safety and quality were discussed, emphasising emerging issues and international food safety foresight.
Reducing Antimicrobial Usage: FAO’s RENOFARM initiative, alongside IFIF’s promotion of nutritional innovations, showcased efforts to minimise the need for antimicrobials in livestock farming.
Feed Ingredient Standards: Progress on the International Cooperation for the Convergence of Technical Requirements for Feed Ingredients Assessment (ICCF) was reviewed, reflecting the growing global alignment in this area.
Emerging Technologies: Discussions on cell-based food and precision fermentation highlighted their potential roles in sustainable food production.
East Africa’s Feed Sector: Opportunities and challenges in East Africa’s emerging feed markets were explored, emphasising sustainable development and economic growth.
Environmental Sustainability: Updates on FAO’s LEAP Partnership, GASL Work Plan, and GLEAM highlighted ongoing efforts to measure and improve the environmental performance of livestock systems.
Strengthening feed safety and capacity
The meeting also celebrated achievements from the ongoing FAOIFIF partnership, including the updated FAOIFIF Manual on Good Practices for the Feed Sector.
This milestone document aims to build capacity for feed safety and foster science-based approaches to sustainable animal nutrition.
Ruud Tijssens, IFIF chairman, commended FAO’s contributions toward the sustainable transformation of livestock systems and emphasised the importance of their collaboration.
“Together, we are making progress in ensuring safe and sustainable animal nutrition, which is integral to addressing global food security,” he stated.
Daniela Battaglia, FAO’s Animal Production Officer, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders to promote responsible and sustainable practices.
She acknowledged the contributions of private-sector collaborations in achieving public health goals, advancing animal welfare, and mitigating antimicrobial resistance.
The meeting reinforced a shared commitment to aligning scientific advancements, regulatory frameworks, and industry practices to address pressing global livestock and feed production challenges.
With these concerted efforts, IFIF and FAO aim to ensure the continued availability of safe, nutritious, and sustainable food for the growing global population.
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