Joel G. Newman receives AFIA’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award

Joel G. Newman, the former president and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association, has been named the 2026 recipient of AFIA’s Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor. The award was presented during AFIA’s annual spring board meeting in Washington, DC. Newman retired in 2019 after 15 years leading AFIA, where he helped steer the trade group through major regulatory and industry shifts, including implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, expanded work with the US Poultry & Egg Association around the International Production and Processing Expo, and early leadership of the Institute for Feed Education and Research. (petfoodprocessing.net)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, especially those working in nutrition, food safety, and industry-facing roles, the recognition is a reminder of how much pet food and broader animal food regulation has been shaped by trade association leadership behind the scenes. Newman’s tenure overlapped with a pivotal period for preventive controls, manufacturing compliance, and cross-sector coordination in feed and pet food, all of which continue to influence how products are developed, regulated, and brought to market today. (petfoodprocessing.net)

What to watch: AFIA’s new board leadership and policy agenda for fiscal 2026-27 may offer a clearer signal on where the association plans to focus next on regulatory modernization, supply chain resilience, and animal food advocacy. (petfoodprocessing.net)