AFIA Pet Food Conference highlights trends, regulations and research

Held in Atlanta during the International Production & Processing Expo, the annual conference drew 500 attendees.

The 2025 AFIA Pet Food Conference brought together 500 industry professionals to discuss trends, research and regulatory updates.
The 2025 AFIA Pet Food Conference brought together 500 industry professionals to discuss trends, research and regulatory updates.
AFIA

The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Pet Food Conference reached a new attendance record in 2025, drawing 500 industry professionals to discuss pet food trends, research and regulatory updates. The conference took place January 28 in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside the International Production & Processing Expo.

“It is exciting to see the continued growth of the AFIA Pet Food Conference, reflecting the industry’s commitment to growth and innovation,” said Louise Calderwood, AFIA’s director of regulatory affairs. “This year’s conference delivered valuable insights on everything from novel ingredients used in pet food and the latest consumer trends, to addressing critical regulatory updates. Staying up to date with these changes is essential for the industry, and we appreciate the engagement from our record-breaking audience.”

The 2025 conference featured sessions on pet food marketing, working dog nutrition and the role of universities in advancing the industry. Regulatory changes were a major focus, with Austin Therrell, executive director of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and Leah Wilkinson, AFIA’s vice president of public policy and education, discussing updates to the animal food ingredient approval process.

An attendee poses questions to a speaker during AFIA's Pet Food Conference.An attendee poses questions to a speaker during AFIA's Pet Food Conference.AFIALara Moody, executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), gave attendees a preview of IFEEDER’s upcoming Pet Food Consumption Report, which is expected to be released later this spring.

Graduate students were also invited to present their research on pet nutrition topics, including the effects of high-protein diets in dogs, the sensory characteristics of jerky-style pet treats made from swine pluck (a combination of pig heart, trachea, esophagus, and lungs), and the digestibility of different types of dog food. The conference also featured four poster presentations from additional students studying pet nutrition.

AFIA honored Eric Altom, Ph.D., director of innovation for companion animals at Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health, with the 2025 Friend of Pet Food Award for his contributions to the industry.

The 2026 AFIA Pet Food Conference will take place on January 27, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. More information is available at afia.org/events.

Adapted from a press release.

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