ARLINGTON, VA. — The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has filed a request for proposals (RFP) for the first phase of a new research product to help the animal food industry address its sustainability.

IFEEDER is looking for proposals that approach sustainability in a comprehensive, consistent and strategic way. It will accept proposals until Aug. 31, 2020 at 5 p.m. eastern time.

“Across the animal feed industry, we have seen companies take compelling action to reduce their environmental footprints and make a difference in their communities, but there are others that are understandably unsure of where to start,” said Robert Cooper, executive director of IFEEDER. “At the direction of the IFEEDER Board of Trustees, through counsel and partnership with the leadership of the American Feed Industry Association and AFIA Sustainability Oversight Committee, we are working to fill that void by developing a clear strategy that member companies can use when building their internal sustainability programs.”

Specifically, IFEEDER is looking for contractors that are interested in helping the animal food industry identify risks and needs for each of AFIA’s member segments, including feed and ingredient manufacturing; developing tools that AFIA members can use to develop their own sustainability plans; use clear communication; target specific research topics that close current knowledge gaps; and address a “roadmap” to help AFIA and IFEEDER connect sustainability to its members’ stakeholders.

“Our goal with this project is to promote trust in the feed industry as a committed partner in bringing forward sustainable protein and dairy products to the marketplace,” Cooper added.

Research projects should be designed for 12 to 18 months for the first phase. Phase two will depend on the results from phase one. IFEEDER will announce a second RFP for phase two.

IFEEDER’s Research Committee will select a final contactor out of all proposals, which will then be recommended to the board for selection “based on a competitive bidding and scoring process,” IFEEDER reported.

The institute will give slight priority to contractors that propose projects including fund-matching or in-kind contributions.

More information about this sustainability research project can be found on IFEEDER’s website.

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