| MEDIA RELEASE NEW AFMA BOARD AND STRATEGIC FOCUS FOR 2026/2027 – 1 October 2026 Pretoria – The Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) has announced its Board of Directors for the 2026/27 term, with Anina Hunter elected as Chairperson and Thinus van Lill as Vice-Chairperson. The new term coincides with a clear strategic focus for AFMA, centred on creating collective industry value and strengthening the operating environment for its members. Hunter and Van Lill bring more than 20 years of combined experience on the AFMA Board, providing continuity, institutional knowledge and a strong understanding of AFMA and the broader animal feed industry. AFMA Board of Directors 2026/27 The AFMA Board of Directors for the 2026/27 term comprises: Mrs Anina Hunter – Epol (Chairperson) Dr Josef van Wyngaard – Voermol Feeds Mr Bertus Kirstein – Nutri Feeds Mr Martin Oosthuizen – De Heus Mr Brett Roosendaal – Epol Mr Paul Saunders – Sovereign Foods Mr Dieter Fleischmann – Afgri Animal Feeds Mr Ruan Stander – Meadow Feeds Mr Francois du Toit – Quantum Foods Mr Thinus van Lill – Quantum Foods (Vice-Chairperson) Mr Hugo Buys – Meadow Feeds AFMA welcomes Hugo Buys and Bertus Kirstein to the Board for the 2026/27 term. The Association also extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing Directors Michael Schmitz of Meadow Feeds and Dr Francois Crots of Country Birds Holdings for their contribution and service to AFMA and the industry during their term on the Board. The Board will provide strategic oversight as AFMA translates its 2026/27 strategic focus into action, following its presentation at AFMA’s Annual General Meeting at Sun City on 8 September 2026. At the heart of this direction is a clear emphasis on purpose and member value: measuring AFMA’s effectiveness not simply by activities undertaken, but by whether collective industry action creates a better operating environment for its members. AFMA Chairperson Anina Hunter said: “AFMA’s strength lies in bringing the industry together around issues where collective action can make a meaningful difference. Our focus is to represent our members with a credible voice, help shape a more enabling operating environment, and work constructively with government, regulators and value-chain partners on the issues shaping our industry’s future.” Creating collective industry value AFMA’s strategic focus is built around five interconnected roles: to influence the policy and regulatory environment, represent the formal feed industry with a credible collective voice, assure the credibility of the industry, align the value chain around common challenges and lead where collective action can make a difference. For AFMA members, this direction is intended to translate into better regulation and stronger policy outcomes, a credible collective industry voice, greater recognition and trust in the formal feed industry, stronger and more resilient value chains, and better insight and preparedness for what lies ahead. Ultimately, member value will remain the measure of AFMA’s strategy. Key areas of focus for 2026/27 include modernizing the feed regulatory framework and industry assurance environment, improving industry intelligence and digital capability, supporting innovation and building the skills and technical capacity needed for the industry’s future. The strategy also recognises that animal feed does not operate in isolation. A competitive feed industry is closely connected to competitive grain and oilseed sectors, functioning trade and logistics, healthy livestock industries, animal health, research and skills, and an enabling regulatory environment. Strengthening collaboration across these areas is therefore central to building a more competitive and resilient feed-to-food value chain. With its Board and leadership in place for 2026/27, AFMA will focus its collective capacity where industry collaboration can create the greatest value for members, while advancing its longer-term strategic direction towards a competitive, credible and resilient animal feed industry that contributes to South Africa’s food security. About AFMA AFMA is the official representative body of the formal animal feed manufacturing industry in South Africa, representing approximately 59% of national feed production. The Association plays a central role in feed safety, regulatory engagement, training, and industry collaboration in support of food security and sustainable animal production. Media enquiries: Petru Fourie, Operations Manager, AFMA | petru@afma.co.za |
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