The farm animal feed market - Italy (2023)

1.1 Definition and presentation

The farm animal food market refers to the production and distribution of food for this type of animal. It thus includes activities involving agricultural production, agribusiness and livestock farming.

Products in this sector are based on the use of two main types of raw materials:

-compound feeds (mixtures of raw materials)

-additives (incorporations that improve food)

The global market is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 3.62% between 2017 and 2023. This growth is especially explained by increased demand for foods ofanimal origin. In addition, product offerings are continuously being innovated, a dynamic that results in a relentless increaseindemand.

The Italian feed market for farm animals is growing strongly and accounts for a significant share of the European market. In particular, driving the development of this market is a growing concern for the dietary health of animals and increased attention to the benefits attributable to the presence of additives in food.

The foods most consumed by farm animals in Italy turn out to be proteins, such as soybeans and cereals such as corn, wheat and barley, although a significant share of the diet of these types of animals also consists of food waste, i.e., human food that is not sold.

In recent years, the Italian farm animal feed market has been characterized by a general increase in costs. This phenomenon, which has particularly affected the corn and soybean segment, poses a significant threat to market operators as it is capable of jeopardizing the entire supply chain of what is a key sector for the Italian economy.

There is, in addition, growing concern among the public about the resource availability problems posed by the feeding of training animals, as it is argued that this type of animal consumes an excessive amount of primary resources and land that are consequently taken away from human availability.