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Women in the Pet Industry Network (WIPIN), an organization designed on women entrepreneurs in the pet industry, will be holding its 2nd annual women-focused pet business conference and awards show, titled "All About Growth," August 14-16, 2014, in Portland, Ore.
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Pet professionals from all career paths within the industry are invited to attend the three-day All About Growth Conference & Awards Show, where 24 business experts will deliver presentations on a variety of topics, such as business strategies, effective marketing, social media success and building connections. Attendees will also be provided the time to forge partnerships and delve into needs, niches and how to best collaborate with other pet professionals, vendors and sponsors.
"There are more pets in American households than children, and pet parents are sparing no expense to ensure their four-legged friends feel safe, happy and loved," said Shawna Schuh, president of WIPIN. "The All About Growth Conference & Awards Show gives pet professionals the opportunity to talk, share and brag about their brand with some of the most influential businesswomen in the pet industry who will share that news with their own vast networks of pet parents and pet professionals, resulting in unlimited potential for business growth."
Registrations are filling quickly for the 7th Aquafeed Horizons Asia and the 5th FIAAP Conference, scheduled for April 8-9, 2014, during the feed industry trade show FIAAP/VICTAM/GRAPAS Asia 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Previous conferences have attracted high-level feed industry professionals from throughout Asia Pacific and beyond. The 2014 meetings already have seen registrations from the region as well as Europe, the U.S. and Australia. With special rates for students, Thai delegates and groups and - for the first time - simultaneous interpretation into Thai for both conferences, the organizers expect the meetings to fill up fast.
"People should not delay in securing their places," organizer Suzi Dominy said.
The Aquafeed Horizons Asia Conference presents advances in formulation and processing technology, while the FIAAP Conference focuses on feed additives and ingredients. Both meetings feature presentations by international teams of industry experts.
World Nutrition Forum 2014, being held in Munich in October, will focus on the concept of sustainability through the show's theme, "sustain:ability."
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Jørgen Randers of the Norwegian Business School and co-author of "The Limits to Growth," will present a view of the world to come in the next 40 years. Keynote speakers for the opening day (October 16) also include Marty D. Matlock of the University of Arkansas's Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, who will present key trends in the future of animal nutrition, and Didier Jans, secretary general of FEFANA, who will speak on the topic of worldwide regulation and harmonization.
Breakout sessions will be organized for the four target species-poultry, swine, ruminants and aquaculture. On the second day, October 17, a top-class mycotoxin expert panel will address key research findings and the application of new technologies that will mark the industry in the upcoming years.
The 2014 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) was successful despite inclement weather conditions that impacted drive-in traffic. IPPE recorded 24,865 registrants, though advanced registration and hotel reservations had projected attendance to be more than 28,000 registrants.
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IPPE is the world's largest annual poultry, feed and meat industry event of its kind and is one of the 50 largest trade shows in the US. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the American Meat Institute (AMI).
There were 5,456 international registrants from 124 countries represented at the expo. The largest group from a single country outside the U.S. was Canada with 838 registrants. The largest region represented was Latin America/Caribbean with 2,397 registrants.
"Despite the weather, we were pleased with the number of attendees on the exhibit floor and received several comments about the high quality of the attendees present," said Charlie Olentine, IPPE show manager. "In general, both exhibitors and attendees understood the challenges presented by the weather."
The main attraction was the large exhibit floor, covering 410,000 net square feet. With 1,152 exhibitors presenting the latest advances in equipment, supplies and services, attendees were able to view and experience all phases of the poultry, feed and meat industry, from live production and processing to further processing and packaging. A week-long schedule of education programs complemented the exhibit floor and helped drive attendance.
2015's IPPE will be held Jan. 27-29, 2015, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.
As Alltech celebrates its 30th International Symposium on May 18-21, 2014, in Lexington, Ky., USA, it will invite its event delegates to explore the border between science and magic that genetics expert Dr. Eugenia Wang, University of Louisville, coined at last year's Symposium. Balancing pragmatism with possibility, the 2014 Symposium will venture into the "what if" solutions that lie within science, agriculture and nutrition.
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Sessions will specifically focus on crop science, life sciences, Africa, business and technology, on-farm solutions, and opportunities with algae and aquaculture by delving into "What if:"
- Farmers were more familiar with drones than tractors?
- Bees and termites cease to exist?
- We understood and could prevent the rise in precocious female puberty?
- Alzheimer's disease and adult-onset diabetes are different arms of the same disease?
- Africa harnessed the power of its oceans and aquaculture?
- We address the problems of inconsistent farm yields in Africa?
- Nutrigenomics could achieve one extra pig per litter or 5,000 liters more milk per cow?
- Fish oil could be completely replaced in a sustainable way?
- You could get all the health benefits of salmon through scrambled eggs?
Symposium registration is now open and available at an early discount rate of $599 until April 10.
At the Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) 36th annual meeting, to be held on April 9-12, 2014, AFB scientists Nancy Rawson and Susan Jojola will chair a symposium on the topic of behavioral insights into food selection and flavor preference in domestic and wild animals.
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The symposium will include the following presentations:
- Fred Provenza, Utah State University: The origins of food preference and how it shapes the environment
- Matthias Laska, Linköping University: Behavioral responses in large carnivores to mammalian blood odor and a blood odor component
- Bruce Kimball, USDA National Wildlife Research Center: Using insights into flavor perception to manage wildlife-agriculture interactions
The AChemS annual meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, FL, USA.
As Alltech celebrates its 30th International Symposium from May 18-21, 2014, in Lexington, Kentucky, US, it will invite its event delegates to explore the border between science and magic that genetics expert Dr. Eugenia Wang, University of Louisville, coined at last year's symposium. Balancing pragmatism with possibility, the 2014 Symposium will venture into the "What If" solutions that lie within science, agriculture and nutrition.
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Sessions will specifically focus on crop science, life sciences, Africa, business and technology, on-farm solutions, and opportunities with algae and aquaculture by delving into "What if:"
- Farmers were more familiar with drones than tractors?
- Bees and termites cease to exist?
- We understood and could prevent the rise in precocious female puberty?
- Alzheimer's disease and adult-onset diabetes are different arms of the same disease?
- Africa harnessed the power of its oceans and aquaculture?
- We address the problems of inconsistent farm yields in Africa?
- Nutrigenomics could achieve one extra pig per litter or 5,000 liters more milk per cow?
- Fish oil could be completely replaced in a sustainable way?
- You could get all the health benefits of salmon through scrambled eggs?
The Alltech Symposium annually draws more than 2,000 delegates from 60 countries. The event, which focuses on creating forums for international discussion and exchange of ideas on a wide variety of topics, typically sees interaction among a diverse group including farmers, business people, researchers, marketers, bankers, entrepreneurs, government officials, university personnel and students, and feed and food industry experts.
Registration for Alltech's 30th International Symposium is now open and available at an early discount rate of $599 until April 10. To learn more or request an invite, visit www.alltech.com/symposium.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) in partnership with the USPOULTRY Poultry Protein and Fat Council held its Pet Food Conference at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta on January 28. During the morning session, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) took center stage. An expert panel featuring Jodi Miller, regulatory manager, P&G Pet Care; Steve Taylor, director of regulatory affairs-US/Canada, Hills Pet Food; and Bart Dunsford, Key Product Development/Technical Services, Animal Science Products, tackled the main issues of interest to the producers of animal food.
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The final proposed rule was published in October 2013; however, AFIA, National Grain & Feed Association (NGFA), Pet Food Institute (PFI) and National Rendering Association (NRA) asked for and were granted an extension, which pushed the date for submission of final comments to March 31, 2014.
"AFIA's goal is to clarify to determine what the comments need to be-what the proposed rule means-and collect feedback about how it will impact the industry," says Leah Wilkinson, AFIA director of ingredients, petfood and state affairs. "This goes for what works as well as what doesn't work."
Ingredients, co-products, petfood and livestock feed are included under the "animal food" rule, which were based on human food current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs).
"The question is whether or not the [human food rule] was an appropriate start," Miller says. "I don't think it was. The animal food industry is a diverse industry with a multitude of processes and facilities. The language is too prescriptive and broadened to greater degree than it historically had been."
Taylor adds: "Diversity makes [the proposed animal feed rule] onerous."
The panel agreed that the cGMPs should apply to all animal groups because it is the overall industry's responsibility to produce safe animal food-whether for livestock or for pets-and separate rules or exemptions would cause confusion.
"How can an ingredient supplier have one set of cGMPs for feed and another for pet food companies?" Taylor asked. "How are human food manufacturers going to handle this when it comes to supplying their co-products to animal food or pet food? It should be an even rule."
The panel highlighted several new guidelines and definitions under the proposed rule for animal food:
- Personal hygiene: Employees should wash their hands; sick employees cannot handle feed/pet food; and maintain adequate cleanliness.
- Hazard analysis: Includes identification of hazards that may occur naturally or unintentionally introduced.
- Chemical hazards: Such forms of chemical hazards include pesticides, drug residues, natural toxins, decomposition, unapproved food additives and nutrient imbalances. Nutrient imbalances should be defined as nutrient toxicity and deficiency because prescribed diets may purposely be imbalanced. In addition, several co-product ingredients could be considered a chemical hazard. The group feels these distinctions will be addressed during the comments period.
- Training: Qualified individuals can obtain training "via courses with standardized curriculum or through on-the-job experience to develop and apply a food safety system." The panel suggests keeping employee training records on hand should the company be called to present them.
- Food safety plans: The proposed rule requires inclusion of hazard analysis, recall plan, corrective action procedures, preventive controls, procedures and frequency of monitoring process control systems, and verification procedures as part of a food safety plan.
- Supplier verification: The panel feels further clarification is needed in terms of when it is appropriate to require them to carry out the rule requirement and who it should apply to. For example, does it apply to all facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold animal food, or just to those that manufacture or process it?
Under a court order, the final rules must be issued on June 30, 2015. Compliance dates will vary depending on the size of the organization. The rule will go into effect 60 days post-publication.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the Poultry Protein and Fat Council had a record-setting 275 people in attendance at its annual Pet Food Conference at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) on January 28. This is the seventh year the day-long conference, which informs petfood industry representatives on the latest industry initiatives including the Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA), has taken place at IPPE.
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"We were pleased by the conference's turnout despite the inclement weather. The large attendance number proves what a strong and growing interest there is among AFIA members and IPPE attendees in regards to petfood," said Leah Wilkinson, AFIA's director of ingredients, petfood and state affairs.
The Pet Food Conference had a diverse panel of speakers compiled from government agencies, private corporations, universities and AFIA staff.
Comprised of the three integrated tradeshows - International Poultry Expo, International Feed Expo and International Meat Expo - the global annual poultry, feed and meat industry trade show was held Jan.28-30 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. IPPE features the latest technology, equipment and services used in the production and processing of poultry, meat and feed products, and features education programs addressing current industry issues.
Animal health company Vets Plus Inc. will be a founding sponsor for the upcoming SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights Summit, which will be held November 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The summit is a one-day workshop before the annual SupplySide West Expo & Conference with speakers from across the pet industry sharing their expertise on healthy, science-based ingredients used in petfood and other pet products.
Topics for the SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights Summit will include industry regulations, quality control, and market trends. Speakers will include:
David Sprinkle, research director, Packaged Facts
Dr. George Collings, president, Nutrition Solutions
Dr. George Burdock, president, Burdock Group
Karen Howard, president, National Animal Supplement Council
According to Vets Plus president and CEO, Raj Lall: "In 23 years of business, Vets Plus has always been committed to the science behind every one of our products, often drawing on my university research and experience in the human health industry to create nutritional solutions for pets. We are proud to support this summit in its inaugural year to promote the use of well-researched ingredients across the pet nutrition market."
Registration is now open for the Feed and Pet Food Joint Conference, taking place at the J.W. Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, September 24-26.
Petfood industry members interested in attending the conference may register online by Sunday, August 11 to take advantage of the early bird rate of US$390. Industry suppliers can register to exhibit at the Joint Conference and sign up to sponsor a function or item from the list of "Related Products."
On Tuesday, January 29, 2013, the American Feed Industry Association and the USPOULTRY Poultry Protein and Fat Council will sponsor the sixth annual Pet Food Conference on the first day of the International Production & Processing Expo. The forum will feature a number of sessions addressing topics ranging from regulatory issues to the technical aspects of pet food production, food safety, marketing and use of ingredients.
The day-long conference, held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. in Room B-401/402 of the Georgia World Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, will feature several experts discussing topics impacting today’s pet food and pet food ingredient manufacturers. Speakers include those from the Center of Disease Control, the US Food and Drug Administration, the Association of American Feed Control Officials and Eurofins.
The Pet Food Conference fee is US$80 before January 11, 2013. View the full schedule of events at: http://www.afia.org/AFIA/Files/IPPE%202012/Agenda%20as%20of%20Nov%207.pdf.
The 2012 Pet food Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on Tuesday, January 24, at the International Feed Expo/International Poultry Expo, organized by the American Feed Industry Association and US Poultry & Egg Association. The conference covers a variety of topics ranging from regulatory issues to the technical aspects of production, food safety, marketing and use of ingredients. Expert speakers will include: Svetlana Uduslivaia, Euromonitor International, addressing domestic and global petfood industry trends; Dr. Dale Hill, ADM Alliance Nutrition Inc., discussing ingredient variability; Douglas Marshall, Eurofins Scientific Inc., and Duarte Diaz, Novus International Inc., addressing petfood safety topics; a US Food and Drug Administration update on the one year anniversary of the Food Safety Modernization Act; and Leah Wilkinson, AFIA, covering third-party certification programs.
The conference will also feature a number of panels. The FDA/AAFCO panel will include officials who will deliver a regulatory update of ingredient approvals, unapproved animal drugs, calorie labeling and the future of GRAS listings in the AAFCO Official Publication. An ingredient supplier question-and-answer panel will offer insight into establishing supplier relationships and issues facing the pet food ingredient sector. The concluding panel will highlight the future of food and feed safety.
The day-long conference, which will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., has an add-on registration fee of US$40, in addition to the initial IFE/IPE registration fee of US$40. After January 6, the rates for both increase to US$60 each. Those interested in attending may register online.
Kansas State University will hold a short course, “Establishing a HACCP Program for the Feed Industry," on November 7-10, in Manhattan, Kansas, USA. This interactive course will focus on the development of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points plan for all sectors of the animal feed industry.
The US$475 course fee includes all handouts, breakfasts, lunches, refreshments and one dinner. The registration deadline is October 28, but course size is limited to 30 participants. Registration is available at www.afia.org. For more information, contact Anita McDiffett, from K-State, at almgret@ksu.edu.
The American Feed Industry Association's Pet Food Committee was among the sponsors of the fourth annual Pet Food Conference, held Jan. 25-26 as part of AFIA's 2011 International Feed Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
More than 20,000 visitors from over 100 different countries attended the 2011 Expo, which included the two-day petfood conference with a number of speakers. The international regulatory update was given by Dr. Gary Egrie of the National Center for Import and Export, while Svetlana Udislivaia of Euromonitor International addressed supply and demand in the international petfood market. Dr. Daniel McChesney provided an update on the Food and Drug Administration and the Food Safety Modernization Act. The conference concluded with a petfood manufacturing panel that featured representatives from The Nutro Company, P&G Pet Care and Snacks, WellPet LLC and Midwestern Pet Foods Inc.
Michael Taylor, the deputy commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be the keynote speaker at the Feed and Pet Food Joint Industries Conference.
Taylor will speak on FDA's plans to implement a preventative and risk-based approach to petfood and feed safety. The focus will specifically be on how such changes will affect manufacturers and their suppliers. Other speakers include Dan McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine and Kent Kitade, president of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
