ARLINGTON, VA. — Registration is now open for the 2023 Pet Food Conference, held annually by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) in conjunction with International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta. The one-day conference dedicated to pet food professionals and aspiring students will take place Jan. 24 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center.

More than 350 industry professionals, including pet food and treat manufacturers, ingredient and equipment suppliers, and other supporting industry members, are expected to attend.

The agenda for this year’s conference will cover timely food safety, regulatory and sustainability topics, as well as key domestic and global trends impacting the pet food market today.

Worth Turner, chief executive officer of Custom Veterinary Supplies, will kick off the one-day conference with his presentation on Mergers and Acquisitions, followed by Scot Hawks, senior consultant at ToxStrategies, who will speak to aflatoxin sampling approaches. Nancy Rawson, acting director and president of Monell Chemical Senses Center, will discuss Sensory Responses in Companion Animals. Jon Copeland, research strategist at MarketPlace, will discuss global trends and their impacts on the pet food sector. Lara Moody, executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), will moderate a panel on sustainability, and a representative from the US Food and Drug Administration is slated to discuss regulatory updates to close out the day. Breakfast and a networking lunch will be provided.

As in years past, one hour of the conference will be dedicated to student research. Graduate students conducting research relevant to the pet food industry have been invited to present their work at the conference, providing a key networking opportunity with established industry members. Additionally, undergraduate students can apply to have a research poster presented alongside the conference. Applications for student presentations are due Nov. 7.

AFIA will also present the winners of its 2023 Friend of Pet Food Award, which recognizes professionals who have made significant contributions to aid in the growth of the pet food industry. Nominations for this year’s award closed on Sept. 2.

Interested industry members can register for the 2023 Pet Food Conference through the IPPE website. Registration costs $105 through Jan. 6, at which point the price will increase to $150.

Read more about pet food and treat industry events.