Global animal protein and feed markets are entering a phase defined less by outright disruption and more by persistent uncertainty in 2026. According to Erik Visser, CEO of Hamlet Protein, the year ahead will reward companies that combine nutritional expertise with strategic agility — those able to respond quickly to shifting trade dynamics, disease pressure, regulation, and evolving sustainability expectations.
“The question is no longer if change will come our way, but how much,” Visser says. “Future success will depend on adaptability and agility, so the winners of 2026 will be the companies that respond quickly and decisively to changing circumstances”
Erik Visser, CEO, Hamlet ProteinHamlet Protein
Geopolitics remains a structural risk
While markets appeared to stabilize after the initial shock of U.S. trade policy changes in 2025, Visser cautions against complacency. Geopolitical risk, particularly involving the United States and China, remains a defining factor for feed ingredient sourcing and animal protein trade flows.
“The question is no longer whether the U.S. will use tariffs as a political tool, but to what extent, and what the knock-on effects of those tariffs will be,” Visser notes
For feed manufacturers, the implications are immediate. Soybeans, soybean meal, vitamins, and amino acids are all deeply intertwined with global trade policy. The expiration of the current U.S.–China trade agreement in the second half of 2026, combined with U.S. midterm elections, introduces additional uncertainty that could quickly ripple through formulation costs and ingredient availability.
Economic growth supports demand — with caveats
Global economic growth in 2026 is expected to exceed earlier projections, driven largely by China and the United States. However, Visser highlights latent risks, including delayed inflationary effects from inventory stockpiling and potential market corrections tied to artificial intelligence investments.
“AI may not impact the real economy to the same extent it is already playing a role on the financial markets,” he says, adding that while technology will enhance productivity, volatility cannot be ruled out
For nutritionists and feed producers, the macroeconomic backdrop suggests stable demand for animal protein, but with heightened sensitivity to price and efficiency.
Animal protein growth slows, efficiency takes center stage
Global animal production growth is expected to slow to below 0.5% in 2026. Poultry and aquaculture will continue to expand, while swine and ruminant production stabilizes or declines slightly. Disease pressure, higher trade costs, and increasingly price-sensitive consumers will compress margins.
“Efficiency will be the name of the game, and nutrition will play a key role in reaching the animal’s genetic potential,” Visser emphasizes
This environment elevates the strategic importance of feed formulation. Stable volumes no longer guarantee profitability; performance-driven nutrition, particularly in early life feeding and health-focused strategies, becomes a differentiator.
Stable feed costs provide an opportunity for strategic investment
Feed costs, which can account for up to 70% of production expenses, are expected to remain stable or trend moderately lower in 2026. Stable soybean meal pricing and easing energy costs provide a window for producers to invest in specialty ingredients and additives.
“Feed costs are expected to remain stable, allowing producers to invest in specialty ingredients and feed additives inclusion to drive the health and performance of their animals,” Visser says
However, risks remain. Intensified La Niña conditions could impact South American crop yields and Peruvian fishmeal supply, while deteriorating trade relations with China could disrupt access to critical vitamins and amino acids. More than 70% of the world’s vitamins and most key amino acids are produced in China, making supply chain resilience a top priority for feed manufacturers.
Soybean meal: Stable prices, strategic complexity
Soybean meal has evolved from a commodity input into a strategically sensitive ingredient shaped by politics, sustainability, and traceability. Despite record production levels, pricing in 2026 will be influenced by regulatory frameworks such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), biofuel policies, and U.S.–China trade relations.
“Our current view is for price levels to remain stable in 2026,” Visser says, while stressing that availability and compliance will matter as much as cost
For nutritionists, this reinforces the need to evaluate alternative protein sources and optimize digestibility and functionality, not just crude protein inclusion.
Regulation drives innovation in feed additives
Regulatory change remains a double-edged sword. In Europe, delayed implementation of the EUDR provides temporary relief, but compliance requirements are still coming. In the U.S., the pending Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act could fundamentally change how feed additives are approved and communicated.
“This will mean a huge step forward for U.S. manufacturers and importers alike, to communicate more effectively on the health and performance impact of feed additives,” Visser explains
At the same time, restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters continue to tighten globally. Visser underscores that no single product can replace antibiotics, reinforcing the importance of multi-faceted nutritional strategies that support gut health, immunity, and performance.
Sustainability becomes core risk management
Sustainability in 2026 is no longer about branding — it is about risk management and long-term license to operate. Producers are increasingly integrating climate risk, resource efficiency, and animal welfare into strategic planning, even when these efforts do not directly command price premiums.
“Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must-have throughout the supply chain,” Visser says
For feed manufacturers, this translates into optimizing feed efficiency, exploring alternative ingredients, and supporting customers with data-driven sustainability metrics.
AI and data: evolution, not disruption
Artificial intelligence will continue to gain traction in animal nutrition, but Visser characterizes its impact as evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Adoption will be gradual, shaped by conservative decision-making on farms and in feed mills.
“We do expect an increased focus on using data from multiple sources to create tailored and optimized diets,” he says, pointing to opportunities in precision feeding, early health detection, and sustainability tracking
Winning in 2026
Despite slower growth and persistent volatility, Visser remains confident in the long-term fundamentals of animal protein demand. People will continue to consume meat, milk, eggs, and fish, but where and how that protein is produced will continue to shift.
“The industry will have to feed an increasing number of global citizens,” he says. “What protein source they will prefer, and where that is being produced, will directly impact the sourcing of animal nutrition and feed additives”
In this environment, agility — across sourcing, formulation, and strategy — emerges as the defining competitive advantage for feed manufacturers and nutritionists alike.
