The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to announce the receipt of $800,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). This funding, part of the USDA's $1.2 billion initiative launched in October, aims to develop new export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products beyond traditional partners such as 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, U.S. exports of feed, feed ingredients and pet food were valued at $13.4 billion, with a total export volume of 19.8 million metric tons. This underscores the significant impact of the animal food industry on U.S. agricultural 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. The program aims to facilitate export expansion, address trade barriers and promote American agricultural products in new markets.
For a complete list of organizations that received RAPP funding, visit here.
