AFIA Says Action Is Needed Now to Protect America’s Animal Food Supply – Grain Journal

Report on U.S. Animal Feed Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A report from the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), commissioned by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), has identified a critical vulnerability in the U.S. food system. The nation’s significant reliance on China for essential vitamins and amino acids used in animal feed poses a direct threat to food security and undermines progress toward key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Analysis of Supply Chain Dependency

The IFEEDER data confirms that China controls a substantial, and in some cases, a majority share of the global production capacity for key vitamins and amino acids. These ingredients are indispensable components in the diets of both animals and humans. This high concentration of production in a single geographic region creates a fragile supply chain, where even minor disruptions could have immediate and severe consequences for U.S. agricultural output and food availability, challenging the stability required to meet SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Impact on Food Security and Sustainable Development

The potential disruption of the vitamin and amino acid supply chain has profound implications for several SDGs:

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): A supply failure would directly threaten food security by diminishing animal health and reducing the production of affordable and nutritious meat, milk, and eggs, which are vital for a balanced food supply.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The absence of essential supplements, such as vitamins A, D, and E, would compromise animal health and welfare. This, in turn, affects the nutritional quality and safety of the food supply available for human consumption.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The efficiency and sustainability of the U.S. agricultural system, which relies on scientifically optimized animal nutrition, would be severely hampered. This could lead to less efficient production models and increased resource use per unit of food produced.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The economic stability of the U.S. food and agriculture industry is put at risk, threatening jobs and economic growth across the value chain, from farms to consumers.

Key Findings from the IFEEDER Report

The report, titled “Strategic Assessment on the Impact of Vitamin and Amino Acid Supply Chain Disruptions on U.S. Food Security,” quantified the scale of U.S. dependency:

• An estimated 48,903 metric tons of supplemental vitamins are utilized annually in U.S. domestic livestock and poultry diets.
• Approximately 425,236 metric tons of the top four essential amino acids are consumed by these same animal species each year.
• While these supplements represent a small fraction of the total 250 million metric tons of feed consumed annually, their availability is critical for maintaining healthy biological functions and ensuring efficient food production.

Strategic Recommendations and Alignment with SDG 17

In response to these findings, the AFIA is calling for a multi-stakeholder strategy that directly aligns with the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The objective is to foster collaboration between government and industry to build a more resilient, diversified, and sustainable supply chain. The recommended actions include:

1. Engaging U.S. policymakers, trade officials, and the broader food and agriculture industry in a collaborative effort to mitigate the identified supply chain risks.
2. Identifying and prioritizing the most critical vitamins and amino acids that require urgent action to secure and diversify sources.
3. Developing risk- and science-based solutions through a joint approach involving the White House, Congress, and industry stakeholders.
4. Actively pursuing pathways to diversify supply chains to prevent future losses in agricultural capacity and ensure a stable and reliable food supply for the future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article’s primary focus is on U.S. food security, which is directly threatened by a potential disruption in the supply of essential vitamins and amino acids for animal feed. This disruption could lead to “diminished animal health and reduced food production,” impacting the availability of meat, milk, and eggs, which are vital food sources. This aligns with the goal of ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article highlights a critical vulnerability in the industrial infrastructure of the food and agriculture sector. The over-reliance on China for key ingredients demonstrates a lack of a resilient supply chain. The call to “diversify supply chains” is a call to build more reliable and sustainable infrastructure to support the food industry and prevent future shocks.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article notes that the U.S. food and agriculture industry is “one of the most efficient, affordable and sustainable across the world,” partly due to nutritious animal diets balanced with these supplements. A supply chain disruption would threaten these sustainable production patterns by reducing efficiency and potentially increasing the resources needed to produce the same amount of food.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article explicitly calls for collaboration to address the supply chain threat. The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is urging “U.S. policymakers, trade officials and the food and agriculture industry to work together.” This call for a “joint industry and all-of-government approach” involving the White House, Congress, and industry stakeholders directly embodies the spirit of creating partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article’s concern over a potential “food supply” disruption that could reduce the availability of animal-based protein and dairy foods directly relates to ensuring a stable and sufficient food supply.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production. The article highlights the vulnerability of the current food production system and calls for action to prevent “future losses of agricultural capacity and food production,” which is a call to build resilience.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The article identifies the global vitamin and amino acid supply chain as a critical piece of infrastructure that is currently not resilient due to its concentration in China. The goal is to make this infrastructure more reliable.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The use of vitamins and amino acids contributes to the efficiency of the U.S. livestock industry. A disruption would lead to less efficient production, undermining the sustainable use of feed and other resources.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article’s call for a “joint industry and all-of-government approach” and the plan for the AFIA to work with “the White House, Congress and industry” is a direct application of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
   • Mentioned: The article provides baseline data that can be used as indicators of production volume. These include the annual consumption of “250 million MT of feed,” “425,236 metric tons (MT) of the top four essential amino acids,” and “48,903 MT of supplemental vitamins.” A negative change in these figures due to disruption would indicate a failure to maintain production levels.
   • Implied: The volume of meat, milk, and egg production. The article states that disruptions could lead to “reduced food production,” implying that tracking these output volumes is a key measure of food security.
2. Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
   • Mentioned: The concentration of the supply chain. The article states that “China controls a significant amount or total majority of global capacity and production of key vitamins and amino acids.” An indicator would be the percentage of the global supply of these ingredients originating from a single country. Progress would be measured by a decrease in this percentage as supply chains are diversified.
3. Indicators for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
   • Implied: Feed conversion efficiency in livestock and poultry. The article states that these supplements contribute to an “efficient” industry. A disruption would negatively impact the efficiency of converting feed into meat, milk, and eggs. Measuring this efficiency ratio would be a relevant indicator.
4. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
   • Mentioned: The development and implementation of a collaborative strategy. The article mentions the AFIA’s plan to work with stakeholders on a “strategy aimed at identifying and prioritizing the most vital vitamins and amino acids for urgent action.” The existence and progress of this joint strategy is a qualitative indicator of a successful partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: grainjournal.com