Contributing writer: Emily Alvarez, fall communications intern.

Astronauts are faced with many challenges when going into space and spending ample time preparing mentally and physically, but there is always the risk of not having the resources they need or finding themselves in unplanned situations. APC, one of the American Feed Industry Association’s members, was recently asked to provide support for a group of students seeking to understand if dried plasma has applications to support astronaut health care in space.  

Continuing my blog series on industry titans, here’s another mover and shaker: RB Halaby. RB retired from AgriCapital a few years ago, but his love for agriculture still shines through even in retirement. Every few months, RB sends an email to me about an article he’s read or something he saw that he felt the American Feed Industry Association needed to be aware of. I really got to know RB through his involvement with the AFIA’s Board of Directors. He also received the 2021 AFIA Distinguished Service Award for his continual support of the animal food industry and all of agriculture. Below is our conversation.

As I tell my teenagers, what you post on social media or on the internet never goes away, so be careful what you do! So is true with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations 2006 report, Livestock’s Long Shadow. No matter how many times this data has been debunked by scientists (here, here and here), the original data is still out there and being used!  

This past week on Capitol Hill, members of the American Feed Industry Association had the opportunity to advocate for the future success of the agricultural sector. The AFIA has played a significant role in influencing policies related to trade, the farm bill, the inclusion of the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development bill and more. With 46 members visiting 35 lawmakers’ offices, this fly-in proved to be a success.  

September 30. Each year, the date comes and goes across the world. To some, it may be a birthday, an anniversary or finally the date of the concert you have been waiting for. To many, it is just another day on the calendar. But for those in Washington, D.C., the date looms larger and larger each year. Why is it important and why should the animal food industry care?

As part of my responsibilities at the American Feed Industry Association, I had the pleasure of spending most of last week at the AFIA Liquid Feed Symposium (LFS) in Louisville. This event is planned, moderated and hosted by AFIA’s Liquid Feed Committee, which is a perennial favorite of mine, and with good reason I suppose.

It’s not an absolute certainty that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will release a new standard, but all signs seem to be pointing in that direction. OSHA has been working on a proposed standard for quite some time now, and there is evidence the agency may be in the final stages of publicizing a proposed rule. 

Last week, former Florida Republican Congressman Ted Yoho, a veterinarian, penned an op-ed for Agri-Pulse, which inaccurately describes the current regulatory process for new animal food ingredients and calls into question the industry’s need for a legislative solution. The op-ed comes as Congress looks to reauthorize the Animal Drug User Fee Act before its Sept. 30 deadline, which, currently, in the Senate, contains a key, bipartisan-approved bill that would streamline regulatory reviews for new animal food ingredients that act within animals’ gut microbiomes to bring about food safety, production or environmental benefits.