The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) conducted a series of meetings and trainings last month in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to promote sorghum as a cost-effective and nutritious livestock feed option. The initiative comes as feed millers in the region explore alternatives to corn due to export restrictions.
Jace Hefner, USGC manager of global trade, and Adel Yusopov from International Feed, a USGC member, led the promotional efforts alongside Council consultants based in Africa.
"Due to policy issues restricting corn exports to some countries in Africa, feed millers are exploring U.S. sorghum's potential in feed diets, a significant opportunity for U.S. growers," Hefner said.
The Council organized a roundtable with 18 members of the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), primarily representing poultry and dairy feed producers. The meeting highlighted U.S. sorghum's applications and availability, with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service office in Nairobi addressing logistics and policy questions.
In Tanzania, the delegation visited broiler and layer facilities to assess logistical capacities and discuss how sorghum could reduce costs for consumers.
Hefner noted strong interest in sorghum in both countries but emphasized the need for further training and capacity-building to fully develop the market potential for U.S. producers.
The USGC plans to continue monitoring raw material prices and working with stakeholders to address protein shortages affordably while diversifying export markets for U.S. sorghum growers.
