Questions answered
Real questions. Current answers.
4 questions customers ask, answered from the latest evidence and updated as things change.
Commodity Markets2
- How will the USDA-projected 2% rise in global vegetable oil exports to 141 million tons in 2026/27 affect rapeseed and soy oil inclusion rates in animal feed?
The projected rise in global vegetable oil exports is primarily driven by rapeseed and sunflower oils — not soy oil — which means broader availability and potentially more competitive pricing for rapeseed oil in international markets, while soy oil's role in animal feed is only marginally affected by trade shifts. Feed inclusion decisions will depend heavily on local crushing activity, biofuel demand competing for the same oils, and relative prices between oil types.
- How is the deepening Odesa export blockade affecting Ukrainian barley and wheat availability for feed buyers in Europe and the Middle East?
The Odesa blockade has severely restricted Ukrainian barley and wheat exports, forcing buyers in Europe and the Middle East to pay higher delivered costs and seek alternative origins such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Baltic-routed Russian grain. Ukrainian physical prices are soft due to trapped stocks, but freight, insurance, and rerouting premiums have sharply raised the cost of securing actual delivery. Next season's Ukrainian supply may fall further as farmers cut barley and wheat planting in response to the cash squeeze.
Animal Nutrition1
- What gene-editing approaches are scientists using to develop avian influenza-resistant chickens, and what are the implications for poultry nutrition and flock management?
Scientists at the Roslin Institute are using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to modify the ANP32A gene in chickens, which significantly reduces — but does not yet eliminate — susceptibility to avian influenza. In challenge trials, nine of ten edited birds were protected at a standard dose, though the virus adapted at very high doses by exploiting related proteins. This research is still pre-commercial, so vaccination, biosecurity, and standard flock management remain producers' primary defences today.
Feed Safety1
- What mycotoxin and contaminant testing protocols should feed mills implement following recent widespread food and feed ingredient recall events?
Feed mills should implement multi-mycotoxin testing panels covering at least DON, ZEA, OTA, T-2/HT-2, and fumonisins, apply risk-based sampling frequencies tied to ingredient origin and commodity type, and integrate results into updated HACCP systems. Recent EU regulatory changes, shifting country risk classifications, and RASFF surveillance data all point to the same priority: systematic, representative testing across the supply chain rather than one-off spot checks.
