AFIA Pet Food Conference concludes

The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Pet Food Conference, held last month in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia, brought together hundreds of pet food industry professionals for a full day of discussions on market trends, ingredient innovation, regulatory updates and emerging technologies, according to a press release.

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.