South Africa’s Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) celebrates its 80th anniversary this year and has been marking the milestone with a series of events throughout 2025.
These reached a culmination this month with the publication of a special edition of the AFMA Matrix magazine, and a fabulous gala dinner and AGM held in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.
From humble beginnings, AFMA has grown to become a pillar of South Africa’s Feed Industry. The germ of the idea that led to the formation of the organisation AFMA in 1945 arose at a time of severe economic hardship in the country, as drought and depression throughout the 1930s left livestock farmers struggling for survival. With animal fodder in scarce supply, necessity drove a new hunger for innovation. The founders of AFMA were in the vanguard of a new science-based approach to animal nutrition which has shaped the organisation’s work ever since.
Over the years, AFMA has dedicated itself to ensuring food security for South Africa’s livestock and farming sectors through a combination of cross-industry collaboration, thought leadership and advocacy. It has also developed a motto of ‘Safe Feed for Safe Food’, a commitment to driving standards of excellence in animal feed production as a means of improving animal nutrition, health and welfare.
Norkem’s South African wing, Norkem Chemicals SA (Pty), is a proud Associate Member of AFMA. As a major international supplier of feed additives, we take our role in the livestock feed ecosystem seriously. In South Africa, we have established ourselves as an important and trusted source of ingredients that ensure animal feed manufacturers can fortify their products in line with the latest nutritional science.
Working as part of AFMA has given us unbeatable opportunities to connect with primary and secondary producers, helping us to understand how South Africa’s animal feed market is evolving so we can meet its needs through our expanding range. It has also given us a voice in the industry, with AFMA publications and events providing a platform to share knowledge we’ve gained in other markets.
In return, we dedicate ourselves to ensuring high availability of the best quality additives available, again drawing on the advantages of our international supply chains.
So happy birthday to AFMA, here’s to another 80 years! For details of how to get hold of the special commemorative edition of AMFA Matrix, click here.