Industry News

AFIA Receives Federal Funding Under USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program

ARLINGTON, Va. – May 21, 2024 – The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to receive $800,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). In October, the USDA initiated the $1.2 billion RAPP program aimed at developing new export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products, extending beyond the traditional partnerships with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and China.

“We thank the USDA for recognizing AFIA as the leading authority in the animal feed, feed ingredient and pet food trade,” said AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman. “This support will enable us to expand our efforts in developing and expanding export markets for U.S. animal food products. We look forward to leveraging this support to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. animal food in emerging markets and contribute to the broader goal of agricultural export diversification.”

In 2023, the overall export value for feed, feed ingredients and pet food stood at $13.4 billion and the total volume of exports of these products amounted to 19.8 million metric tons, demonstrating the significant role the animal food industry plays in overall U.S. agriculture exports.
The USDA’s RAPP, initiated in 2023 following a bipartisan request from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, awards funds to eligible entities, including agricultural trade organizations like the AFIA, state regional trade groups, cooperatives and state agencies, to facilitate export expansion, address trade barriers and promote American agricultural products in new markets. View the complete list of organizations that received RAPP funding here.