ARLINGTON, VA. — The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) announced the addition of Lara Moody as its new executive director, effective April 30. She succeeds Robert Cooper, former executive director of the organization.

Moody will provide visionary leadership to IFEEDER’s activities, including program development, strategic partnerships and collaborative resourcing.

Working closely with IFEEDER’s board of trustees and committee members, she will develop and support resources and related efforts to advance the public charity’s research and education mission. Collaborating with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) to pursue and communicate the institute’s work, she will create opportunities to engage donors and further the dialogue on important issues impacting the feed industry.

“As the animal food industry evolves, innovates and works to address emerging global challenges, we need visionary leadership to ask the tough questions, provide reliable data and research and engage with stakeholders and the food chain to advance solutions and understand the issues that impact our business,” said Constance Cullman, president of IFEEDER and president and chief executive officer of AFIA. “Lara’s demonstrated thought leadership, experience building initiatives and programs, background in sustainability and success in managing industry and academic research programs, will position IFEEDER to successfully fulfill its research and education focus for the future.”

Moody joined IFEEDER from The Fertilizer Institute, where she was the vice president of stewardship and sustainability. In this position, she led the development and implementation of The Fertilizer Institute’s programs to increase the use and adoption of fertilizer best management practices and oversaw sustainability initiatives related to fertilizer production and its use in the field. Moody also has worked in research and extension programs at Iowa State University and the University of Tennessee.

Moody holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering and master’s degree in biosystems engineering from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She may be reached at lmoody@afia.org.

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.