The AFMA Forum is the feed industry’s premier strategic platform, convening leaders from across the feed-to-food value chain to engage on critical challenges, share insight, and harness innovation and technology in shaping a resilient and sustainable food system for South Africa’s future.
Opening the event at Sun City, Liesl Breytenbach, executive director of AFMA, said that the forum provides a structured environment where scientific evidence, market intelligence, regulatory updates, and operational realities can be discussed with the aim of finding practical, solution-focused outcomes.
According to Breytenbach, decisions within the feed sector influence animal protein supply, food affordability and safety, and trade competitiveness, as well as system resilience.
“Feed is no longer a supporting function; it is a stabilising force across the broader food economy. It is not only about the manufacture of feed but also understanding where the feed and food fit into the broader value chain.”
She pointed out that that animal feed was at the centre where grain producers connect with technology providers, role players in the livestock industry, and the end-consumer.
“To facilitate this connection, we wish to look at the pressures that the industry faces, but not only focus on the challenges. We also want to look at how we are able to respond to these challenges as well as determine how we can adapt to new technologies that are shaping the future,” Breytenbach said.
Industry faces growing pressures
Anina Hunter, chairperson of AFMA, emphasised that collaboration between the feed and food industry and government was important for addressing challenges such as infrastructure constraints, rising energy costs, and creating an enabling environment.
Anina Hunter is the managing director of Epol Feed at Rainbow Chicken. She pointed out that although there was a record maize harvest the past season that brought some relief on the feed input side, the structural pressures remain.
“We need logistics to work so that we can reliably move inputs and feed. Biosecurity and disease risk demand innovative thinking. Infrastructure is needed to produce and move products. The climate remains volatile. Market access is determined by the ability to be competitive and remove regulatory barriers. These are all aspects that will continue to impact the feed industry,” she said.
She added that growth will belong to industries that deliver affordable protein efficiently, safely, and sustainably. In addition, she pointed out that technology amplifies expertise.
Technology enables smarter decisions
She stressed that the aim of the AFMA Forum is to create a platform for collaboration so that industry members can take the industry into the future.
“We want to look at how we can further improve our local industry. Although we are already world-class, there are always areas where we can learn something new and improve. For instance, we must look at how we can use technology to enhance decision-making. Technology will help the industry to apply available knowledge faster so that the industry can be even more precise.”
“AFMA aims to be the voice for the industry. We are here to influence government and to create an environment for the industry to flourish in. We want to ensure that there is affordable protein for the consumer,” Hunter said.
