CGFA 102nd Annual Convention Industry Report: From Supply Chains and Market Volatility to Public Trust

This report documents and analyzes the California Grain & Feed Association (CGFA) 102nd Annual Convention held in Santa Barbara, California, from April 21–24, 2026.

The report examines key themes discussed during the convention, including feed-industry supply chains, market volatility, regulatory compliance, sustainability, animal-agriculture communication, byproduct utilization, public trust, and emerging trends in North American feed and animal nutrition industries.

Based on on-site observations, program materials, presentations, sponsor participation, and industry discussions, the report provides a practical industry-oriented perspective on how feed, pet food, aquafeed, livestock nutrition, and functional nutrition sectors are evolving under increasing regulatory, environmental, and market pressures.

Topics covered include:

• U.S. feed-industry regulatory developments

• Supply-chain integration and commodity-market uncertainty

• Sustainability and agricultural byproduct utilization

• Animal-agriculture communication and public perception

• Feed manufacturing and ingredient systems

• Industry networking and business-development trends

This publication is intended for professionals, researchers, industry stakeholders, feed manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, animal-nutrition companies, agricultural organizations, and others interested in contemporary developments within the North American feed sector.

Author: Huiyun Zhou, MSc, TC and JN LLC
ORCID: 0009-0005-3043-3717