The American Feed Industry Association has released its 2025-26 State of the U.S. Animal Food Industry Report, highlighting the animal food industry's economic contributions, safety efforts, innovation and work to strengthen supply chains amid political, regulatory and global market changes.
The interactive annual report, titled "Our Industry, Our Promise," covers AFIA's fiscal year from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026. It is part of the association's yearlong celebration of America's 250-year anniversary under the theme "Feeding Independence, Growing Innovation."
The report examines the industry's role in supporting the U.S. economy, advancing animal food safety, improving supply chain resilience, promoting sustainability, shaping policy and regulatory discussions, developing the workforce and expanding international trade.
The U.S. animal food industry's economic footprint totaled $267.1 billion. Nearly 5,650 U.S. animal food manufacturers supported more than 80,300 jobs and paid $18.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes in 2023.
Animal food safety also remained a major industry focus. More than 1,000 facilities are Safe Feed/Safe Food certified, while roughly 99% of federal inspections found strong safety practices and procedures at feed mills and pet food manufacturing facilities.
AFIA also advanced several policy and regulatory priorities during the year, including ingredient review reforms and support for the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act. The association represented the animal food industry on emerging federal and state policies affecting manufacturers and other industry participants.
U.S. animal food exports reached $7.8 billion in 2025. AFIA's global affairs team worked to expand market access opportunities for members while bringing attention to vulnerabilities in feed supply chains.
Sustainability remained another area of industry activity. Based on the most recent figures from 2023, upcycled ingredients accounted for at least half of pet food ingredients and 37% of livestock feed ingredients.
The report also highlights AFIA's educational and professional development efforts, which brought together thousands of industry professionals through in-person and online programs. Activities included food safety training, technical education, networking events and international business development opportunities.
Looking ahead, the report identifies public-private collaboration as an important component in addressing supply chain infrastructure challenges, strengthening animal disease preparedness and navigating emerging policies.
The report provides industry data, policy analysis and member achievements as AFIA and its members work to support U.S. food security, economic growth and advances in animal nutrition. The full 2025-26 State of the U.S. Animal Food Industry Report is available at afia.org/promisesreport.
Source: American Feed Industry Association, "New Report Highlights US Animal Food Industry's Resilience, Innovation and Challenges Ahead"