Q: What is IFEEDER?
A: The Institute for Feed Education & Research is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation.

Q: Who established IFEEDER & why?
A: The American Feed Industry Association created IFEEDER in response to the critical need to raise funds to support the increasing need for answers to the difficult challenges we face in feeding the world in the next 50 years. AFIA also recognized that education was a key part of this effort, hence IFEEDER was born. Establishing a 501(c)(3) foundation also allows the benefits of tax deductibility to a wide range of like minded partners in this effort.

Q: What is IFEEDER’s mission?
A: To sustain the future of food and feed production through education and research.

Q: How will IFEEDER accomplish that mission?
A: IFEEDER’s Board of Trustees is made up of representatives of all parts of the feed or food industries. IFEEDER has education and research committees that establish the goals and objectives used to select the projects of maximum value to the feed industry and animal agriculture as a whole. By raising the needed funds and applying them to the highest value projects, IFEEDER will lead the way in educating the industry, future employees, producers and consumers about the most sustainable practices to reach the goal of feeding over 9 billion people worldwide in 2050.

Q: Why should I donate to IFEEDER?
A: If you have benefited from the work others have done to help you be successful in the feed business, IFEEDER deserves your support. If you believe that the answer to our toughest problems lie in applying technology to sustain our future, then you should support IFEEDER. If you want to insure that the future of agriculture should be shaped by sound science and higher education, then your donation to IFEEDER is an investment in that future.

Q: How can I be a part of IFEEDER?
A: Donate today! See the enclosed pledge card for donation levels and information.

Q: Why did AFIA establish IFEEDER?
A: With increasing demands for AFIA resources dedicated to legislative and regulatory issues, the ability to attract other industry stakeholders to participate and the tax deductibility for individuals of the 501(c)(3) foundation, it was evident that a vehicle of this type was long overdue, so AFIA established the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER).

Q: Who provides funding for IFEEDER?
A: IFEEDER is soliciting initial financial support from the global food and animal feed agriculture industries.

Q: Do AFIA dues support IFEEDER?
A: No. AFIA dues DO NOT directly support IFEEDER.

Q: Who decides which projects IFEEDER supports?
A: IFEEDER’s Board of Trustees has the final approval of all projects funded by IFEEDER. Within the governance structure of IFEEDER a Research Committee consisting of PhD technical specialists defines the criteria for funding, reviews and recommends projects to be funded that are deemed important to support the IFEEDER mission. There is a similar committee for Education which reviews and recommends projects, scholarship opportunities and public education programs to advance the visibility and viability of our industry.

Q: Can I provide suggestions for IFEEDER projects? If so, who do I contact?
A: Yes, visit the website and contact any member of the research or education committees to submit your suggestion.

Q: What are the “overhead” and/or administrative costs for IFEEDER?
A: IFEEDER seeks to minimize these expenses through the voluntary service of the Board of Trustees and committee members. AFIA provides staff time and shares office space currently. As IFEEDER grows an executive director and full time staff may become necessary, but IFEEDER will endeavor to hold administrative costs to no more that 15% of annual receipts.

Q: Why can’t the issues of research and education is handled within AFIA, as they always were?
A: Legislative and regulatory issues are increasing in size and complexity, requiring more resources to be dedicated to addressing this basic need of AFIA member promises. At the same time, AFIA membership understands the long range important need to fund research and education to benefit all stakeholders of the feed and animal industries. IFEEDER fills this need.

Q: Is there a formal connection of IFEEDER to AFIA?
A: The only formal connection of IFEEDER to AFIA is that many individuals and/or organizations involved in the food or feed industries may have involvement in both organizations. Technically, IFEEDER is completely independent from AFIA. The mission of IFEEDER and the function of AFIA are, while related in some ways, very distinct. AFIA is the trade association representing the U.S. feed industry. IFEEDER is a foundation with a broader mission with a larger scope, with different funding.