Petfood Forum Asia, an exclusive conference for the Southeast Asian pet food and pet treat industry, is returning as an in-person event to Bangkok. The conference is scheduled for 25 October, 2023, at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) and will be co-located with Pet Fair South East Asia 2023.
Petfood Forum Asia will feature expert insights on the latest pet food nutrition and safety, pet treat processing and key trends in the regional market. Attendees will be able to meet with fellow pet food professionals and leading industry suppliers to exchange ideas and pursue business opportunities.
Besides offering networking during the one-day conference, Petfood Forum Asia 2023 will also provide its registered participants access to Pet Fair South East Asia receptions, including one the following evening, 26 October, at the Sky Bar in Bangkok.
Petfood Forum Asia agenda
As of press time:
10:30-11:30 Check-in/registration and coffee/tea/snack
11:30-12:30 Welcome and opening session: The trends driving the Asian pet food market
Matthias Koch, founder and managing director of pet product distributor Anibene, presents current and future trends shaping the Asian pet food and pet care markets. Based on his experience helping premium pet supplies brands enter and operate in various Asian countries, he shares his insights on where the markets are headed.
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:10 A forgotten organ — The gut microbiome of dogs and cats
Shiguang Yu, Ph.D., MBA, global director, pet nutrition and applications, for DSM-Firmenich, describes the gut microbiome — comprising thousands of distinct microorganisms normally residing in the gastrointestinal tract — and its important role in pet health and diseases. Through studies and examples of pet foods with prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, he explains how the gut microbiome can be altered by these substances.
14:10-14:50 Comprehensive risk evaluation of environmental pet food pathogens
David Rosenblatt, DVM, head of learning and academic services for Sher Consulting and Training, presents a proven tactical method for coping with environmental pathogens, especially the invisible, extremely hazardous Salmonella spp., which poses a constant threat to the health of pets and pet parents and to the reputation of pet food manufacturers and brand owners through post-lethal recontamination.
14:50-15:30 Coffee break
15:30-16:10 Medium-chain fatty acids to inhibit yeast and mold spoilage in pet treats
Jason Shelton, Ph.D., global vice president of R&D for Kemin Nutrisurance, explains how microbial spoilage presents a significant pet food safety and quality concern, especially in terms of mold and yeast in semi-moist pet treats due to their water activity and moisture content. With the ongoing consumer push for natural labels, new preservatives research shows the promise of a novel liquid product containing coconut oil with high levels of fatty acids.
16:10-16:50 Best practices for producing functional, clean-label pet treats
Will Henry, director of R&D for Extru-Tech Inc., delves into common challenges in formulating and processing pet treats, including addressing palatability vs. clean-label issues. He also provides an understanding of the treat processing profile, how that differs from producing “brown and round” kibble diets and how to troubleshoot common production problems to ensure pleasing pet treat aesthetics in terms of appearance, texture and taste.
17:00-19:00 Pet Fair South East Asia Networking reception
26 October, 2023
17:00-19:00 Pet Fair South East Asia Sky Bar reception
Find more information and register
