ARLINGTON, VA. — The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) on Nov. 23 announced it has partnered with The Context Network to develop a sustainability roadmap to support members of the animal food industry.

The project will include an industry and stakeholder assessment, through which IFEEDER will help companies identify and evaluate risks and opportunities within each segment to advance corporate sustainability programs and environmental initiatives.

“Our recent conversations with member companies about their sustainability programs have illuminated the fact that everyone in our industry — no matter where they are at in their sustainability journeys — wants to do more to help their customers achieve their climate pledges and meet changing consumer expectations,” said Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER. “By leveraging the expertise of The Context Network, our goal is to use research and analysis to identify and advance strategies and tools our members can use to improve their sustainability programs and meet the needs of their stakeholders.”

The development of this roadmap will occur in three phases. The first phase will be to create a gap analysis to determine what obstacles are currently standing in the way for companies in terms of implementing or measuring sustainability programs and their respective impacts.

The next phase will focus on qualitative and quantitative research. IFEEDER and The Context Network will work with scientific advisors, members of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and supply chain advisors to gather data on current industry practices and sentiments.

The third and final phase of this sustainability roadmap project will be to identify key findings and resources that pet food and feed companies can use to enhance their sustainability efforts and effectively communicate those efforts to stakeholders.

“A good sustainability road map will enable all members of the US feed and pet food industry to collaboratively make progress on issues that are important to them, their customers and the communities they operate in,” said Matt Sutton-Vermeulen, principal of The Context Network. “That means companies that have yet to begin their sustainability journeys will have an ‘on ramp’ to get up to speed, while other companies with mature sustainability programs will be able to stay on track to make continuous improvements.”

Alongside IFEEDER and The Context Network, a variety of pet food and animal feed companies have already joined the ranks of this sustainability endeavor. As of Nov. 23, they include Arm and Hammer Animal and Food Production, Animix LLC, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds, Belstra Milling, Berg+Schmidt America LLC, Bill Barr & Company Inc., CJ Bio America Inc., ED&F Man Liquid Products LLC, Elanco Animal Health, Kemin, The Mosaic Company, United Animal Health Inc., Westway Feed Products, and Zinpro Corporation.

This project is just one approach IFEEDER is taking to address and advance the sustainability of the animal food industry. Learn more about the sustainability road map project and other initiatives at ifeeder.org/sustainability.

Read more about sustainability in the pet food and treat industry.