Brazil has enormous importance to the global feed community. As both the third largest producer of animal feed, and as a place where much of our industry’s environmental impact is felt, we are eager to build on our strong presence in Brazil to support more companies in the feed chain to do their work safely and sustainably.
And now, with new regulations, a growing domestic market, and increased international scrutiny, Brazil’s feed industry is entering a crucial chapter that will define its future.
A crucial market
Take just soy as an example. Something like 87% of soy grown around the world is used for animal feed, and more soy is grown in Brazil than anywhere else, much for export to China and Europe. Production is only increasing; a sign of strong demand both within Brazil, and internationally with a record 5.4 million tons of soybean meal being exported in just the first quarter of 2025 alone.
No matter how you look at it, it is clearly important that Brazil‘s feed industry operates in a safe and sustainable way. More than 400 of these companies in Brazil are already GMP+ certified, however many others are not, which in effect limits their potential in a globalised market that is increasingly demanding verification and transparency.
We want to support more companies in Brazil to meet these global standards, and we are growing our relationships with Certification Bodies (CBs) and partners who are interested in building their presence in this growing, and changing, market.
A changing market
Almost a year ago, the Brazilian government published a new regulation requiring all products intended for animal feed to be subject to inspection. The decree aims to align the animal feed sector with the requirements of Brazil’s Self-Control Law, meaning all companies in the feed sector are expected to manage their own safety programs.
Alongside this, MAPA (the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock) launched SIPEAGRO, a digital platform to track feed production and inspection records. The decree also allowed MAPA for the first time to accept third-party certification programs as part of their self-control measures, and to do so in digital form.
This means there are now more reasons than ever before for Brazilian companies to embrace GMP+ certification, as it will help document and prove their efforts. We have been in discussions with MAPA to look at how GMP+ certification could reduce inspection frequency or requirements for companies, because of our established and reliable system for feed safety.
The certification landscape is also changing. Following the new legislation, our partners at the national feed association Sindirações will be moving away from delivering their existing Feed Safety Protocol, and focusing more on representing the industry. This will impact a number of compound feed companies who currently use the protocol. We are starting a strategic collaboration with Certifee, a Brazilian consultancy, to offer Brazilian companies a step-wise integration of GMP+ certification. We will be sharing more detail during VICTAM LatAm 2025 in Sao Paolo in September – we hope you see you there.
Against all of this, of course, is the backdrop of sustainability. The sustainability movement within Brazil is growing, with farmers looking at land use change and regenerative practices, all at the same time as demand for more sustainable practices rises from export markets; EUDR chief amongst them. Brazil is also in the international spotlight like never before, with the COP30 climate change conference being held in Belem later this year. Brazilian companies who can demonstrate their sustainability credentials in this crucial moment, and as domestic and international demand strengthens, will be in the best position to seize market opportunities and out-perform their competitors.
Our range of sustainability offerings is well placed to support these companies.
Hands-on partnerships
In the meantime, our work in Brazil continues. We recently held examinations for more auditors, and at the most recent meeting of our GMP+ Task Force in Brazil we heard more about how companies are approaching certification in their unique local contexts.
Notably, some companies reported that misinterpretations or technical misunderstandings led them at times to perceive non-compliance risks that may not actually exist. Our local Task Force partners are invaluable in helping us understand and address these kinds of issues to ensure the GMP+ Feed Certification scheme is practical and usable in local contexts. And the benefits of GMP+ certification remain as relevant as ever. Companies limit their operational risks, they receive materials that have already been tested, and you gain the benefits of being part of a well-known international brand’s community.
As GMP+ International takes on more of this international role, we are looking to make our governance structure more internationally inclusive. Given that feed safety and sustainability are increasingly global concerns, we believe our governance should reflect that international scope.
So if you produce or transport feed and are looking to certify your operations in this new chapter, or you’re a Certification Body interested in supporting more companies in Brazil, GMP+ International is the partner of choice, and we are here to talk. Brazil is a market ready to move, and together we can help this beautiful country play a leading role in ensuring safe and sustainable feed, worldwide.