AFIA's Largest Annual Event Concludes in Atlanta
US - – The 2011 International Feed Expo (Expo), organized by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) in conjunction with the US Poultry & Egg Association's International Poultry Expo, concluded on Friday (28 January).This year's event featured a series of speakers and educational programmes, and nearly 900 exhibitors displayed the latest in products and technologies that are beneficial to the feed, pet food and poultry industries.
The Expo and related events were attended by both US and international feed and poultry industry stakeholders. Visitors from over 100 different countries attended this years Expo. AFIA's booth this year emphasized the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program, the Institute for Feed Education & Research and AFIA's representation of the pet food industry.
"This year's Expo offered attendees a range of substantive programming and events to make their time in Atlanta as compelling as possible, on top of the hundreds of exhibits on the show floor," said Joel G. Newman, AFIA president and CEO.
Conference attendees received regulatory and legislative updates from industry leaders and key federal decision-makers as well as gained knowledge and insight during the Expo and related educational programmes.
AFIA's Pet Food Committee and USPoultry’s Poultry Protein & Fat Council organized and sponsored the 4th Annual Pet Food Conference, and AFIA also hosted the International Education Forum during the week-long event. These offerings complemented the additional educational opportunities offered by USPoultry.
The two-day Pet Food Conference, even larger than last year's record-breaking attendance, included a variety of expert speakers. The international regulatory update was given by Dr. Michael David of the National Center for Import and Export, USDA/APHIS, while Svetlana Udislivaia of Euromonitor International addressed the international pet food market supply and demand. Dr Daniel McChesney provided an update on the FDA and the recently passed Food Safety Modernization Act. The conference concluded with a pet food manufacturing panel which featured experts from The Nutro Company, P&G Pet Care and Snacks, WellPet LLC and Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.