The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is thrilled to announce the receipt of over $170,000 in federal funding for fiscal 2024, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Market Access Program (MAP). With additional roll-over funding, the total 2024 MAP funding for AFIA reaches nearly $200,000, amplifying opportunities for the animal food industry to expand market access and facilitate the export of U.S. animal food products to Vietnam and China.
AFIA President and CEO, Constance Cullman, expressed gratitude to the USDA for recognizing AFIA as a leading authority in the animal feed, feed ingredient and pet food trade. Cullman stated, "The U.S. animal food industry has the potential to significantly improve global animal nutrition practices and pet food diets sustainably. However, foreign regulatory and policy constraints currently impede fair competition in foreign markets. We look forward to collaborating with the USDA to overcome these barriers and promote our products."
With the newly secured MAP funding, AFIA is poised to continue efforts to expand the U.S. animal food industry’s $7.5 billion-worth of exports. This involves communicating the benefits of U.S. animal food products—such as utility, safety and quality—to Vietnamese and Chinese stakeholders, aiding farmers in achieving improved animal production and health. Additionally, AFIA aims to educate pet owners on the significance of complete and balanced pet diets for longer, healthier pet lives.
Operating within the MAP framework, FAS collaborates with trade associations like AFIA to jointly fund the promotion of U.S. agricultural products and commodities on the international stage.
