The American Feed Industry Association's (AFIA) annual Pet Food Conference, held January 27 in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., brought together hundreds of pet food industry professionals for discussions on market trends, ingredient innovation, regulatory updates and emerging technologies. AFIA also recognized Jerry May as the recipient of its 2026 Friend of Pet Food Award for his contributions and 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 examination of the current and emerging pet food market, followed by sessions exploring livestock population trends and their impacts on ingredient availability and a session on 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 insights into regulatory issues affecting the pet food sector.
The conference showcased 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. A presentation on feline nutrition research provided attendees with insights into feline health, physiology and metabolism.
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.
"Humans are a lot more interested now in what they are putting in their bodies," said Hana Bieliauskas, senior vice president and partner at the Inspire PR Group. "Similarly, I think pet parents are more interested in what they are feeding their pets."
The AFIA Pet Food Conference is planned annually by AFIA's Pet Food Committee and serves as a forum for education, collaboration and the exchange of ideas across the pet food community.
AFIA's 2026 Pet Food Conference gold sponsors included Novonesis, Zinpro and Petfood Industry. Silver sponsors included Alltech, Darling Ingredients, the Poultry Protein and Fat Council, Trouw Nutrition and Rangen Pet Nutrition.
The 2027 AFIA Pet Food Conference will take place January 26, 2027, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. For more information, visit afia.org/events.
