For the feed and animal protein industries, geopolitical conflict does not always translate into empty silos. More often, it shows up as cost pressure, logistics uncertainty and difficult procurement decisions. According to Reece H. Cannady, this is where the real risk lies if the Ukraine-Russia and Iran-US conflicts continue to escalate.

Speaking to The Animal Economics during TUYEM 2026 in Antalya Belek, Cannady said a prolonged escalation would certainly create pressure on raw material markets. However, he underlined that the most concerning scenario would not necessarily be the disappearance of global food supply, but further increases in raw material prices.

“What we see will depend on how far that escalation goes”

He pointed to 2022, when crops across Ukraine were heavily affected, as an example of a difficult period for the sector. Despite the pressure, he said, the industry managed to get through that period, even with higher raw material prices.

Cannady emphasized that global food security is still supported by production in several major agricultural markets. He noted that the United States has historically seen large corn harvests, while soybean production in Brazil, Argentina and the United States continues to increase each year. He also pointed to China’s corn production, which has provided around 50 million metric tons of additional output to strengthen food security.

Still, this does not mean the feed industry is protected from disruption. Cannady warned that any interruption in crop production makes raw material imports harder to manage, particularly for markets that depend on international supply chains.

“Every time there is a disruption in the production of any commodity, it becomes more difficult to manage raw material imports,” he said. “But this is something the world can handle. We have seen it before.”

Held under the theme “Central Turkiye”, TUYEM 2026 brought the feed sector together at a time when raw material flows, regional trade routes and supply security have become central concerns for animal production. In that context, Cannady’s comments pointed to a practical message: the issue is not only whether raw materials exist globally, but how reliably and affordably they can reach feed manufacturers and animal protein producers.

For Cannady, if current conflicts continue to escalate, the worst-case scenario for raw materials would be higher prices rather than a total lack of supply. He added that animal protein producers are capable of managing this process on behalf of their customers, even under more difficult market conditions.

For The Animal Economics, this distinction is important. In the current feed economy, resilience is increasingly measured not only by access to supply, but also by the ability to absorb volatility, manage procurement risk and protect animal protein value chains from sudden cost shocks.