US government grants $2.8 million to enhance pet food exports

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated a total sum of $300 million (€276.9M) under the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to 66 US organizations to develop new export markets in “high-potential” regions like Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and South and Southeast Asia.

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) will receive just over $2M (€1.88M) after an acceptance of their proposal from earlier this year, while the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will receive $800,000 (€738,600).

The funding is part of the $1.2 billion (€1.1B) new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) launched in October 2023.

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the new funding will enable producers and agribusinesses to be more competitive and resilient “in an increasingly volatile global trading environment.”

US exports of feed, feed ingredients, and pet food totaled $13.4 billion (€12.3B) in 2023, with a total export value of 19.8 million metric tons.

Industry reactions

Dana Brooks, PFI’s President and CEO, says the body is “eager to invest” the capital in enhancing the US market share in regions where the desire for “high-quality, complete and balanced pet food and pet food treats is increasing.” 

“RAPP opens up new avenues for US exporters to pursue given the increasingly unpredictable global marketplace,” she adds, stating that “PFI is grateful to the USDA for its continual support of market access programming and advancing the interests of the pet food industry.” 

AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman thanked US officials for recognizing the body as a “leading authority in the animal feed, feed ingredient and pet food trade.” 

She says the funding will enable AFIA to leverage the USDA’s support to enhance the “competitiveness” of US animal food in emerging markets.