soybean field

USSEC Visits with ANFNC President, Attends Annual Conference in Romania

In an effort to promote U.S. Soy and strengthen relationships with local feed manufacturers, a USSEC delegation visited Romanian feed and broiler companies during the last week of June and attended the annual conference of the Romanian Feed Manufacturers Association (ANFNC). The conference is Romania’s key event related to the feed industry and provided an excellent opportunity to meet with end users of U.S. soy, including decision makers (owners and general managers) and technicians (nutritionists and purchasing managers). USSEC technical consultant Iani Chihaia escorted and introduced the group at the meetings.

1.U.S. Soy grower leaders Larry Marek, Jeff Magyar and Bill Bayliss are pictured with a group of participants at the Romanian Feed Manufacturers Association (ANFNC) annual conference on June 30 in Bucharest
1. U.S. Soy grower leaders Larry Marek, Jeff Magyar and Bill Bayliss are pictured with a group of participants at the Romanian Feed Manufacturers Association (ANFNC) annual conference on June 30 in Bucharest

United Soybean Board (USB) director Larry Marek of Iowa gave a comprehensive presentation to an audience comprised of over 70 key Romanian industry owners and professionals, representing more 80 percent of Romania’s feed industry, demonstrating the superior characteristics of U.S. soybeans and soybean meal: quality, reliability and sustainability.
At the end of Mr. Marek’s talk, participants raised questions mainly targeting biotech soy benefits and about their concerns related to the potential impact of the recent EU proposal for the nationalization of GM imports.
“Adoption of this proposal will generate huge disruptions in soybean meal supply in [all of] Europe and the Romanian feed industry will be affected, too,” commented Iosif Pazuric, ANFNC past president. “Currently, the Romanian Feed Industry imports over 80 percent of the soybean meal used in the country and any disruption in soybean meal trade will impact all of us,” he added.
USSEC Trading and Risk Commodities Consultant Lola Herrera discussed global soy market status and trends. Dr. Chihaia talked about the status of the local industry and emphasized USSEC’s support for ANFNC and opportunities for U.S. Soy exports.
Prior to the conference, Mr. Marek, together with Ohio Soybean Council members Jeff Magyar and Bill Bayliss, visited Combial Feed Mill and Bona Avis Broiler Farm, one of Romania’s most modern broiler integrations, family owned and administrated by Eda Kizilcelik.
The day after she received the USSEC delegation’s visit at Combial, Mrs. Kizilcelik was elected as the new president of ANFNC at the association’s annual meeting on June 30.
Bona Avis’s broiler facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art technology for climate control, ventilation and feeding systems, which provides them with real chances for future growth and development in broiler business. Combial Integration grows grain crops, runs a feed mill, and raises broilers, as well as operating a poultry slaughterhouse and processing facilities for their meat products, sold locally and exported to the EU.
Southeast Europe, particularly Romania, is predicted to play a key role in animal protein production growth for the next several years, while meat production in Western Europe is expected to stay flat or even slightly decrease. As one of the main grains producing countries in the EU 27, with an annual production of 20 million tons of grains per year, Romania still has an unlocked potential in growing its poultry, livestock and aqua sectors. Currently, Romania ranks as the main feed producing country in the Southeastern Europe region, with an annual production of over 3 million tons of feed in the industrial sector and another 2.7 million tons of feed produced as home mixed feeds. As the poultry, pork and aquaculture sectors continue to grow, there will be a greater need for a high quality protein source rich in essential amino acids that U.S. soybean farmers are ready to provide.

Highlights from the USSEC delegation’s visits to Combial Feed Mill and Bona Avis Poultry Farm. Larry and Jennice Marek, Jeff Magyar, Bill Bayliss and Lola Herrera toured the feed mill and broiler facilities together with owner Eda Kizilcelik
Highlights from the USSEC delegation’s visits to Combial Feed Mill and Bona Avis Poultry Farm. Larry and Jennice Marek, Jeff Magyar, Bill Bayliss and Lola Herrera toured the feed mill and broiler facilities together with owner Eda Kizilcelik