
Feed safety, sustainability leader joins NGFA
ALEXANDRIA, VA. — On Dec. 4, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) announced the appointment of Berit Linnehan Foss, Ph.D., to vice president of feed and sustainability, effective Dec. 18. Foss will succeed Dave Fairfield, who will retire from the association on Dec. 31.
Foss brings an extensive background in feed, regulatory affairs, quality control and sustainability to the NGFA. She most recently served as director of sustainability at POET, LLC, where she created and implemented sustainability programs, regulatory compliance strategies and collaboration initiatives.
Foss currently serves on the NGFA Sustainability Committee. In addition to her work in environmental sustainability, Foss is also a recognized leader in feed safety, having previously served on the NGFA Feed Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Foss to NGFA,” said Mike Seyfert, president and chief executive officer of the NGFA. “Her extensive experience in feed, regulatory compliance and sustainability aligns perfectly with our mission, and she is joining us at a critical juncture. Berit’s leadership will strengthen our efforts to support and advocate for our members, ensuring a thriving and innovative feed industry.”
In her new role with the association, Foss will lead its efforts regarding feed policy, regulatory advocacy, industry best practices and sustainability. She will also support the NGFA’s mission to advance the feed and grain industry regarding safety, sustainability and innovation.
“I am thrilled to join the NGFA and contribute to its critical work in advancing the feed industry,” Foss said. “Throughout my career, I have been passionate about building partnerships, driving sustainability, and creating opportunities for innovation. I look forward to working with NGFA’s members and stakeholders to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Foss has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Dakota and a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Baylor University. Additionally, she has authored several research publications and has been recognized for her work in regulatory compliance and food safety programs.
Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.

Lactalis Canada opens ESG-focused distribution facility
OSHAWA, ONTARIO — International dairy manufacturer Lactalis Group opened its largest distribution center – capable of storing as many as 60,000 pallets in cold and freezer environments – in Canada.
The new 379,000-square-foot facility operated by Lactalis Canada Inc. increased the capacity and efficiency of the company’s Canadian supply chain network, primarily supporting its cheese and table spreads business.
Lactalis Canada, which operates 20 manufacturing facilities, said its distribution center in Oshawa, Ontario, will have approximately 80 employees. Mark Taylor, president and chief executive officer for Lactalis Canada, called the new facility a testament to the company’s ambitions as a dairy leader in Canada.
“This facility ensures we meet the evolving needs of our business and valued customers, while its sustainable design will revolutionize our network’s efficiency and ESG agenda,” Taylor said.
Some of the operation’s built-in sustainability features include:
• Zero-carbon ready.
• Source of energy on the province’s power grid and no additional reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
• Energy efficient lighting, equipment and high insulation to reduce power load imposed on the refrigeration system.
• Heat generated by the refrigeration system is fully reclaimed to heat offices and the plant’s truck apron.
• A white roof atop the structure reduces heat island effect.
• Roof solar panels will be added in the future to provide additional renewable power – which is expected to offset reliance on the power grid in certain circumstances.
Said Taylor: “We look forward to being a key employer in the region and are committed to creating opportunities for employment, skill development and career growth to contribute to the strong community of Oshawa.”
Lactalis Canada makes dairy products for its various brands, such as Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia.

2025 AFIA PISC registration now open
ARLINGTON, VA. — Registration is open for the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference (PISC), which will be held March 18 to20 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla.
Educational sessions at PISC will address topics such as barriers to global trade, sustainability opportunities for the animal food industry, and regulatory changes. Speakers also will cover emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, and provide economic outlooks for the grain and animal protein markets.
An additional highlight of this year’s conference includes a special screening of “World Without Cows,” a documentary exploring the cultural and economic significance of cows.
PISC also will feature optional networking opportunities such as golf and a late-night dessert bar, as well as new activities, including a pickleball tournament and puppy yoga, for additional fees.
“PISC is a vital forum for hundreds of animal food industry professionals to discuss important topics while making lasting industry connections and holding business meetings,” said Jessica Morse, director of meetings and events for AFIA. “The event continues to deliver unmatched professional development and networking opportunities, and we look forward to another exceptional gathering in Orlando this year.”
Early-bird registration is available until Jan. 10 for $650 for AFIA members and $2,250 for nonmembers. After Jan. 10, the fee will increase to $775 and $2,550, respectively. Through the Buyers to PISC program, AFIA member company professionals in buying roles who normally would not be able to attend the event are invited to apply for a conference scholarship.
Register and learn more about PISC sponsorship opportunities here.
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Arla Foods Ingredients acquiring whey nutrition business
VIBY, DENMARK — International dairy products manufacturer Arla Foods Ingredients is further investing in its whey business, acquiring Volac Whey Nutrition and its processing facility in Wales.
After reaching an agreement to purchase the company this past April, the deal in November received approval from the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Arla Foods Ingredients shared that the Wales facility will become a cornerstone for its global production, noting that the plant handles large volumes of whey, with a focus on whey protein isolate production. The company shared that the facility also will produce whey fat concentrate and lactose.
The acquisition of Volac’s whey business strengthens Arla Foods Ingredients’ standing as a whey manufacturer, group vice president and managing director for Arla Foods Ingredients Luis Cubel said.
“Having Volac’s experts – and its network of trusted supply partners – as part of our team gives us several strategic advantages,” Cubel said. “It expands our market reach, helping us serve even more customers, and strengthens our global supply chain at a time when demand for whey is growing.”
Whey protein isolate, Arla Foods Ingredients pointed out, is key to the health and sports nutrition sectors.
Cubel said both companies are committed to quality, sustainability and innovation.
“We look forward to learning from our new colleagues and partners and harnessing our respective strengths to meet the evolving needs of manufacturers and consumers, especially in the sports nutrition space,” he said.

IFEEDER offers expanded LCA resources
ARLINGTON, VA. — A new set of life cycle assessment (LCA) resources are available to help the animal feed and pet food industry assess its environmental footprint, the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) said.
IFEEDER developed the resources in collaboration with the Context Network and the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC).
“IFEEDER is committed to providing practical tools and resources to support sustainability efforts across our industry,” said Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER. “With the increasing interest in LCAs, these new materials provide actionable resources for companies that are interested in pursuing LCAs for their products.”
An LCA is a systematic analysis of the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life. It is a tool for product development, benchmarking, identifying areas for improvement and informing strategic planning.
The new resources include:
- LCA process overview: An introduction to LCA, its purpose, processes and outcomes, including steps for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards review.
- LCA glossary: Definitions of key terms and concepts to help companies understand the language of LCAs.
- Industry member insights: A summary of findings from interviews with US and Canadian industry members about LCA drivers, challenges and current trends.
- LCA decision tree: A guide to key questions and decisions for companies considering an LCA, addressing value, commitment, prioritization and strategy.
- LCA landscape mapping and profiles: A detailed map of stakeholders, including standards organizations, regulatory bodies, software providers and practitioners, and their roles in the LCA ecosystem.
The complete Animal Food Industry Sustainability Toolkit is available for free to American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) members and IFEEDER donors on IFEEDER’s website, ifeeder.org. ANAC members can contact ANAC for free access to the toolkit. It is also available for purchase to nonmembers for $995 in AFIA’s online store.
Read more about sustainability efforts across the pet food and treat industry.

Ag secretary nomination announced | Pet Food Processing
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced over the weekend that he would nominate Brooke Rollins as the next Agriculture Secretary.
Rollins currently works as president and chief executive officer of America First Policy Institute, where she’s held that role since 2021. She previously worked as director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration.
“Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent Small Towns is second to none,” the Trump transition team wrote in a statement.
Rollins also posted on X on Nov. 23 following the announcement.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next US Secretary of Agriculture,” she wrote. “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, Texas — truly the American Dream at its greatest.”
Rollins grew up in Glen Rose, Texas, and was a member of the National FFA Organization growing up. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture development from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) provided a statement on the nomination.
“We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination to be Secretary of Agriculture,” said Zippy Duvall, president of AFBF. “We’re pleased she has a good relationship with our state Farm Bureau in Texas and hope to build on it if she’s confirmed by the Senate. We’re encouraged by her statement that she’d ‘fight for America’s farmers and our nation’s agricultural communities.’ Effective leadership at USDA is more important than ever as farmers and ranchers face a struggling agricultural economy.”
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AAFCO adds 5 foods to Common Food Index
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is currently accepting feedback on new food items recently submitted to its Common Food Index (CFI), which details common foods that may be appropriate for use in animal foods, including pet food.
Originally launched in 2023, the CFI serves as a tool during ingredient reviews, seeking to provide harmonization and transparency throughout the animal food industry.
“Our intention in maintaining the Common Food Index is to aggregate historically safe items, with a broad consensus, that can serve as a trusted resource to animal food manufacturers and consumers,” said Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO. “To be clear, the CFI is not a substitute for the AAFCO process for new feed ingredient definitions, which remains clearly delineated in the Official Publication.”
The new foods considered for inclusion in the CFI are Oyster mushroom, Lion’s Mane mushroom, almond, cilantro and sunflower seed.
The association is encouraging industry stakeholders, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, consumer groups and the general public to provide their feedback on these food items. All feedback is due December 13, 2024. Stakeholders can submit their feedback to AAFCO here.
Stay up to date on the latest pet food processing industry headlines on our News page.

IFEEDER personnel appointed to air quality task force
ARLINGTON, VA. — Lara Moody, executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), has been appointed to the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) announced on Nov. 19.
As a member of the USDA AAQTF, Moody will have a role in advising the agriculture secretary on air quality issues and their connection to agriculture. She will contribute to reviewing federally supported research, fostering collaboration across government levels to align agricultural air quality policies, and ensuring that USDA-backed conservation practices are grounded in peer-reviewed science and remain economically viable for producers.
“The animal feed industry has been working hard to bring innovative feed technologies to the market that can reduce enteric methane production or decrease nitrogen and phosphorous loss into the environment,” said Constance Cullman, president and chief executive officer of AFIA and president of IFEEDER. “With Lara Moody’s background in animal production systems, manure management and crop production, she understands the essential role agriculture has in adopting practices that support air quality. Lara Moody will undoubtedly raise the right questions and provide input to the secretary of agriculture as the department moves forward in supporting air quality programs or developing new regulations.”
With degrees in agricultural and biosystems engineering, and experience in academic research institutions and industry organizations, Moody is well prepared to address the practical application of science and research, Cullman said.
IFEEDER works across the animal food and broader food and agricultural sector, along with academia and public institutions, to conduct objective research, education and sustainability projects to inform business leaders and decision-makers about the future of the expanding feed and pet food industry.
Read more news from associations and agencies in the pet food sector.

Dairy industry pivoting toward a sustainable future
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Sustainability has become a core driving force in the dairy processing industry and a central focus in business operations.
As highlighted in Dairy Processing’s Commitment to Sustainability webinar, the industry has seen a significant shift toward more sustainable practices, not only in day-to-day operations but also throughout the entire supply chain, according to a survey commissioned by Dairy Processing in collaboration with Cypress Research.
“Increasing pressure from customers, consumers, investors and regulators is mounting on businesses, especially in the agriculture sector, to have robust and transparent sustainability plans and programs that demonstrate their performance and striving to continuously improve,” Eric Hassel, vice president of sustainability standards, measurement and reporting for the Innovation Center for US Dairy, said during the webinar, which currently is available on-demand.
Earlier this year, 106 participants representing North America-based dairy processors were surveyed in order to better understand how company leaders are committing to sustainability initiatives in their dairy processing facilities and the importance of prioritizing such initiatives as part of their business success during the next five years.
When reviewing the top overall priorities of their businesses’ success over the next five years, processors rated the importance of eight goals for their investments on a 5-point scale, and 75% or more of respondents identified streamlining operations (89%), increased market share (86%) and a highly skilled workforce (79%).
Respondents were also asked if their company has environmental sustainability programming to help manage business risks and opportunities. Approximately 80% of respondents reported that their company currently has a program in place or one currently under development.
“I think this all reflects that US dairy processors are still very much on that upward curve in terms of adopting company environmental programming,” said Marjorie Hellmer, president of Cypress Research.
When it came to formal, measurable reduction or increase targets for sustainability initiatives, 60% of respondents reported having targets for overall waste reduction, and 51% and 50% had targets for energy reduction and water reduction initiatives, respectively.
As part of the US Dairy Stewardship Commitment program, which the Innovation Center for US Dairy facilitates, the center aggregates and reports sustainability data on behalf of 40-plus dairy companies in its biennial sustainability report. Last year’s report showed that dairy processors are diverting 94% of their waste streams away from landfill and to beneficial uses, such as animal feed, upcycling, energy recovery, etc.
However, Hassel said he was surprised by the low number of processors reporting no net-zero plans in place.
“The corporate sector is receiving so much pressure to decarbonize, and we see thousands of companies signing onto the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), including many CPGs, retailers and dairy companies,” Hassel said.
The SBTi mandates net-zero GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 2050 for those companies participating.
When it came to barriers around implementing sustainability initiatives, an overwhelming 71% of respondents said that balancing short-term mission and long-term goals was an obstacle. The next largest line item was technology limitations, as reported by only 37% of respondents.
“This dovetails with the findings that, even when projecting five-year company success, environmental responsibility ranks much lower as a priority, than other operationally driven objectives,” Hellmer said.
— Find more insights by watching the complete webinar.

Nestlé modifying innovation strategy | Dairy Processing
VEVEY, SWITZERLAND — Nestlé SA launches more than 1,000 innovations and product renovations annually, but that is about to change, said Laurent Freixe, chief executive officer.
The company is set to cut that annual number in half and shift its innovation strategy to a more targeted approach.
“This does not mean investing less on innovation,” Freixe said during Nestlé’s Nov. 19 investor day. “It means focusing on fewer, bigger and better; the bigger bets that have the greatest potential to bring incrementality.”
Supporting the shift in strategy is the fact that Nestlé’s top 4,000 stock-keeping units account for roughly 50% of the company’s sales and 50% of its margin.
“With fewer and bigger initiatives, we have (the) leading science and research capabilities,” Freixe said. “We invest more in R&D than any other company in our industry and we are determined to spend well and better, in a more focused way. And this will ensure we are getting the right innovation — these breakthrough innovations — that create a before and an after when they hit the market.”
The company has identified five categories where it plans to place some of its big bets, including infant formula, coffee, meal preparation, snacks, pet food and in-home coffee appliances.
Examples of such innovation cited by Freixe include the 2023 launch of Sinergity, an infant formula that combines probiotics with six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) to support age-adapted infant development. Research has shown the composition of HMOs in breastmilk changes during the lactation period. Therefore, to meet the specific needs of infants according to age, products containing the new blend have varying levels of six different HMOs, according to Nestlé.
Like other consumer packaged goods manufacturers, Nestlé also wants to capitalize on consumer demand for cold coffee applications. In May, the company launched Nescafe Espresso Concentrate Coffee.
In 2023, 32% of the coffee consumed out of the home was cold, and the cold coffee segment is one of the fastest growing in the industry, with consumption rising 15% during the past four years, according to Nestlé. The concentrates were developed to give consumers a convenient option to create customizable cold lattes or Americanos.
Freixe said Nestlé will add more big bets in 2026 and 2027 so the company will have approximately 15 to 20 in development with the potential to deliver at least 100 million Swiss francs ($113 million) in incremental sales.
“Nestlé has reduced investment over the last years in the area of generating demand, which is not the best idea to drive growth and market shares,” he said.