AFIA Pet Food Conference Addresses Trends, Innovation and Emerging Technologies at IPPE

The American Feed Industry Association's (AFIA) annual Pet Food Conference, held Tuesday in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga., brought together hundreds of pet food industry professionals for a full day of discussions on market trends, ingredient innovation, regulatory updates and emerging technologies. The AFIA also recognized Jerry May as the recipient of its 2026 Friend of Pet Food Award for his contributions and long-standing commitment to the pet food industry.

"This year's Pet Food Conference reflected the dynamic and evolving nature of the pet food industry," said Louise Calderwood, AFIA's director of regulatory affairs. "From insights into global market trends and ingredient availability to forward-looking discussions on artificial intelligence, the program underscored the importance of innovation, science and collaboration as the industry looks ahead."

The conference opened with a look at the current and emerging pet food market, followed by sessions exploring livestock population trends and their impacts on ingredient availability and a session on the potential uses of black soldier fly larvae beyond traditional fat and protein applications. Regulatory updates remained a key focus, with representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration providing attendees with timely insights into regulatory issues affecting the pet food sector.

The conference showcased the latest academic research, with three graduate student researchers presenting papers addressing topics such as hydration in healthy cats, pet owner perceptions of insect-based treats and the effects of sorghum polyphenol supplementation in adult dogs. Later in the afternoon, a presentation on feline nutrition research provided attendees with updated insights into canine and feline health, physiology and metabolism.

One of the conference's central highlights included an afternoon seminar focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the pet food industry. The session explored how AI is being applied across the value chain, from recipe formulation and nutritional optimization to manufacturing and kibble production, offering attendees a forward-looking perspective on how emerging technologies may shape the future of pet food.

"Humans are a lot more interested now in what they are putting in their bodies. Similarly, I think pet parents are more interested in what they are feeding their pets," said Hana Bieliauskas, senior vice president and partner at the Inspire PR Group.

The AFIA Pet Food Conference is planned annually by AFIA's Pet Food Committee and continues to serve as a forum for education, collaboration and the exchange of ideas across the pet food community.

The AFIA thanks its 2026 Pet Food Conference gold sponsors Novonesis, Zinpro, Pet Food Industry and Pet Food Processing; and silver sponsors Alltech, Darling Ingredients, the Poultry Protein and Fat Council, Trouw Nutrition and Rangen Pet Nutrition.

The 2027 AFIA Pet Food Conference will take place Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit afia.org/events.