Mexico, Denmark Partner to Strengthen Animal Byproduct Industry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and Denmark’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries have launched joint efforts to strengthen Mexico’s animal byproduct industry, which includes more than 260 processing and marketing plants across the country.

The initiative focuses on improving the quality of certified animal feed for small and medium-scale producers through collaboration on technology, regulatory practices, and sustainability standards.

The National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), the authority responsible for regulating these facilities, also known as rendering plants, oversees the transformation of animal byproducts such as bones, skins, and offal not suitable for human consumption into meal and oils for animal use.

As part of the cooperation, the First Mexico-Denmark Rendering Forum was held virtually, organized by SENASICA, the Embassy of Denmark in Mexico, and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). The event gathered 175 participants, including veterinarians, consultants, academics, and representatives from Mexican rendering plants and Danish technology firms.

The forum is part of the second phase of the Sectoral Strategic Cooperation Project, which has been developed jointly by Mexico and Denmark for more than five years. Its objective is to exchange information on rendering processes, raise production standards, and strengthen SENASICA’s institutional capacity to supervise the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Participants discussed upcoming regulatory changes related to GMP, technological solutions for sustainable byproduct treatment, and financing tools available through the Danish government. The meeting also facilitated networking among industry leaders, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions to foster strategic alliances aimed at adopting cleaner and more sustainable processes.

Both countries’ sanitary agencies agreed to organize regional workshops on GMP and rendering technologies, establish interdisciplinary working groups involving industry, academia, and regulators, and monitor progress on GMP certifications and the adoption of new technologies.

This bilateral effort reinforces Mexico’s commitment to sustainable agri-food production and technological innovation while seeking to position the country as a regional reference in the responsible management of animal byproducts.

Rendering plants in Mexico are equipped with specialized and certified machinery, including steam generators, grinders, mills, cookers, mechanical and hydraulic presses, dryers, strainers, and mixers, under the supervision of SENASICA’s General Directorate of Animal Health.