NEWS 88 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2024 AFIA opens registration for 2024 Feed Industry Institute The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) opened registration for its Feed Industry Institute (FII), happening June 17-20 in Minneapolis, Minn. The event brings together emerging professionals in the animal feed industry to learn more about the ingredients, processes and regulations used within the industry to manufacture and sell animal feed and will include networking opportunities for the attendees. “The Feed Industry Institute is a great educational opportunity for people in the feed industry, especially those who may be new, to learn from experts,” said Paul Davis, Ph.D., AFIA’s director of quality, animal food safety and education. “We hope that attendees gain a deeper understanding of the process and importance of producing high-quality feed." The FII 2024 agenda will provide attendees with a 101-style overview of the U.S. feed industry, animal physiology and nutrition basics, the types of ingredients used and their purpose in animal food, the role of medications and additives, and formulation and various processing techniques. It will also include sessions on building consumer trust, participating in international trade and engaging with the various regulatory agencies. The full agenda is available on the event’s website. Read more>> VAFO Group acquires Dagsmark Petfood VAFO Group, one of the leading European producers of super premium pet foods, successfully completed its acquisition of the Finnish company Dagsmark Petfood at the end of January. Now part of VAFO Group, Dagsmark will continue its operations while retaining its existing workforce. With this acquisition, VAFO stated that it has become the clear leader in the pet food market in the Nordic countries. In Finland, VAFO Group is currently represented by its subsidiary Prima Pet Premium, which also operates a new dry food factory under the name of VAFO Finland. That facility opened last year and is the result of more than 20 million euros in investment. Dagsmark joins the two companies as they prepare to undertake further expansion of VAFO Group in the local market. "This is a strategic move for the VAFO group and especially for Prima Pet Premium, the producer of the best-selling pet food in the local market, HauHau Champion. Together with the wet food production of Dagsmark, we will strengthen our position, but it also creates opportunities to expand into other Nordic markets,” says Timo Pärssinen, CEO of Prima Pet Premium. Dagsmark primarily specializes in the development and production of wet pet foods, thus complementing VAFO Group’s production portfolio in the Finnish market. The acquisition includes Dagsmark’s production facility in the town of Mellilä, located approximately 60 km northeast of Turku. Riikka Koskenohi, CEO of Dagsmark Petfood, sees many positives in the acquisition: “This is a very good thing for us. With a new owner, we gain additional resources, expertise, and the opportunity to invest more in development”. Read more>>
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