Discover emerging technologies, see future trends and meet the professionals shaping the pet food landscape at the Petfood Forum 2026 Tech Talk Stage, where the latest products and capabilities from suppliers and innovators assisting pet food companies worldwide will be showcased.
Petfood Forum Tech Talks were among the most well-attended sessions in 2025, with many presentations at standing-room only. In 2026, the program has expanded to add even more sessions, providing attendees with maximum opportunities to see what's next in pet food technologies. Currently, there are 20 sessions scheduled over two days.
Sponsored by Symrise, the Petfood Tech Talk Stage will be located in Aisle 600 on the Exhibit Hall Floor.
Blending premixes that perform: The four components of a well-designed premix. Dr. Sofia Wilson, companion animal nutritionist, will explore how ingredient blending impacts premix quality and outline the four essential components of a well-designed premix. While formulators often focus on active ingredients, additional components are essential to achieving a uniform premix, as even small variations in premix composition can significantly affect performance and nutrient delivery in finished pet food. Sponsored by Trouw Nutrition.
Beyond least cost: Turning formulation into a decision driver. Annette Lundeen, senior manager of product management, will examine how modern formulation tools help teams proactively evaluate trade-offs, test scenarios before making changes and make smarter, data-driven decisions. Managing formulas often gets stuck in a least-cost mindset, but real-world decisions are rarely that simple — every formula change affects nutrition, claims, palatability, operations and bottom-line financials. Sponsored by Datacor.
Minerals and movement: Advancing canine mobility with performance minerals. Laura Amundson, Ph.D., research and discovery lead, global pet, will present new research showing how Zinpro Performance Minerals supported improved mobility outcomes in healthy adult dogs after a structured exercise challenge and increased daily activity in senior dogs. Because declines in mobility can begin long before visible signs appear, foundational nutrition is important at every life stage. Sponsored by Zinpro.
Extruder hood designs that promote sanitary processes. Jonathan O. Thorn, executive director of processing technology, will discuss recent developments in extruder hood design that are helping pet food manufacturers combat microbial contamination. By reorienting the traditional vacuum takeaway system, a key process risk can be eliminated — and plants can also gain improved process control through use of a sanitary extruder hood. Sponsored by Coperion.
Why dry matters: Strategies to prevent Salmonella proliferation in low-moisture pet food and treats. John H. Hanlin, Ph.D., vice president of food safety, will focus on new research on the survival and recovery of Salmonella in dry environments, along with cleaning and sanitizing strategies to reduce food safety risk. Salmonella is both a canine and human pathogen, and outbreaks of foodborne illness affecting pets and humans have been linked to dry dog food and pet treats, resulting in product recalls. Sponsored by Ecolab.
Sustainable solutions for compositional analysis. Eileen Stochl, product manager, and Jay Alappat, Ph.D., chief science officer – chemistry, will demonstrate how CEM's analyzers provide reference chemistry accuracy for moisture, fat and ash in a fraction of the time traditionally required, while eliminating solvents and reducing test times. Analysis covers raw and incoming ingredients to in-process slurries and finished kibble. Sponsored by CEM Corporation & Certified Group.
Advancing canine oral care: Enzyme-probiotic formulation demonstrates antimicrobial and clinical benefits. Dr. Abhijit Rathi, director of R&D, pet and human nutrition, will present findings from in vitro testing and a 30-day randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating Bactase Pet PB in dogs. Sponsored by Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics.
Proactive pet health: A clinically validated oral probiotic for next-gen innovations. Marie Parks, ingredient science specialist, will review the science behind OraCMU, a patented probiotic shown to reduce key markers of halitosis and plaque in dogs. As pet owners shift toward preventative care, oral health is emerging as a high-impact innovation space, and this session will explore how microbiome-based oral care can drive product differentiation, premium positioning and long-term brand growth. Sponsored by Stratum Nutrition.
Redefining stability and bioavailability: Jefo Matrix Microencapsulation revolution in pet food. Emilie Fontaine, vice president of brand and products, will introduce Jefo Matrix Technology, which uses advanced lipid engineering to physically isolate reactive ingredients, ensuring they survive the journey from premix to gut. The session will address how aggressive minerals can degrade vitamins and limit bioavailability — and how precision nutrition can be made simpler and more predictable. Sponsored by Jefo Nutrition Inc.
Market trends shaping the future of pet food manufacturing. Paul McKeithan, senior vice president of business development, will discuss market trends shaping the future of pet food manufacturing. Sponsored by Reiser.
The Petfood Tech Talk Stage showcases the latest products and capabilities from suppliers and innovators assisting pet food companies worldwide.Paul Ward Photography
Yeast extracts: Solutions for companion animals. Russ Kelley, global program manager, pet, will explore how yeast extracts — rich sources of essential nutrients, bioactive compounds and unique flavor profiles — can offer an array of benefits to foods, treats or supplements targeting companion animals. The exact benefit or combination of benefits depends upon strain, fermentation conditions, extraction processes and post-extraction processes. Sponsored by Phileo by Lesaffre.
Teaching an old plant new tricks: Retrofitting for pathogen control. Alexandra Miller, global key account manager, and Kris Newton, business development manager, expert partners, will discuss how to modernize sanitary design in existing pet food facilities without major reconstruction. Most pet food facilities aren't new builds, but that doesn't mean they can't be world-class in safety. Sponsored by Mérieux NutriSciences.
Digital twins for line tuning and optimization in the pet food industry. Zary Peretz, senior analyst, will share two recent applications of digital twin technology to explain how simulation can support better decision-making and line performance improvements in pet food manufacturing. Digital twins create virtual environments that enable engineers to explore improvement opportunities on existing and new lines, with lessons learned and keys to success highlighted. Sponsored by The Haskell Company.
Boosting cat wet food palatability with natural free amino acid solutions. Ludovic Lair, pet care business unit leader, and Pierrick Kersante, pet care R&D manager, will present how naturally derived and balanced free L-amino acid mixes — developed through extensive hydrolysis — effectively stimulate feline umami receptors and significantly enhance palatability in wet cat food. Cats' highly selective palates make wet food palatability notoriously difficult to optimize, and conventional systems only tell part of the story. Sponsored by BCF Life Sciences.
Postbiotics beyond the gut: Holistic benefits of TruMune in aging dogs. Jess Jarett, R&D principal scientist, pet, will present new research on the holistic impacts of TruMune supplementation in older dogs, covering areas such as nighttime rest and occasional discomfort-related behaviors, as well as support for critical species in the gut microbiome. While postbiotics are well known for their positive effects on digestive health and immunity, their benefits in other areas of pet well-being are just beginning to be explored. Sponsored by Cargill.
The sustainability shift: Rethinking films and oxidation in modern pet food. Troy Snader, senior vice president of secondary business development, will explore practical strategies to address oxidation through advances in machinery and film technology, helping producers balance performance, compliance and environmental responsibility. Sustainability goals, consumer expectations and emerging state legislation are creating competing pressures as manufacturers work to deliver fresher products while maintaining acceptable shelf life. Sponsored by ProMach.
Analytical considerations for pet food. Kari Nichols, business development director, will introduce commonly used dietary fiber testing methods and discuss key considerations for pet food testing in light of Pet Food Label Modernization, which has brought dietary fiber front and center within the pet food and ingredient industries. Sponsored by Eurofins Nutrition Analysis Center.
The emerging role of enzymes in pet food. Marcial Guevara, global senior technical product manager – pet, and Rebecca Replogle, nutrition science lead, will explore how enzymes have traditionally been used in livestock feed and highlight the untapped opportunities they offer to elevate product quality and support pet health in pet food. While enzymes are widely used in livestock feed, their adoption in pet nutrition is still in its early stages. Sponsored by Novonesis.
Freshness fetched: Delivering science-backed shelf-life extension for refrigerated pet food. Ricardo Moreira, business development director – food protection, will present fresh pet food solutions for total food protection, shelf-life extension and pathogen control using clean-label, kitchen-friendly ingredients backed by predictive microbiology and real-world results. Refrigerated pet food is on the rise — but so are the risks. Sponsored by Kerry.
Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials show dates are April 27-29, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. To register or stay informed on the latest event developments, go to PetfoodForumEvents.com.
