NEWS 104 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2024 Over 60 industry professionals gathered for the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference (EMC), held in Bonita Springs, Florida on November 6-8, 2024. Hosted by AFIA’s Equipment Manufacturers Committee, this year’s conference embraced the theme, “Feed Industry 4.0 - Leveraging Emerging Technologies”, with sessions covering regulatory updates, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. “There is tremendous interest in how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can be used in our industry to improve productivity and efficiency, and this conference delivered some great insights,” said Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s Director of Feed Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs. The conference’s educational sessions covered the latest developments in technology and industry standards. Updates from the AFIA staff gave attendees insights on recent legislative and regulatory updates, including the outcome of the presidential election and how the International Organization of Standardization will impact the feed industry. Other sessions covered topics such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, providing attendees with a foundational understanding of how emerging technologies can boost operational efficiency and enhance real-time monitoring in feed production. Ryan Walker, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Mississippi State University, presented real-world examples of leveraging artificial intelligence, revealing how integrated these tools are in daily operations and emphasizing the role that advanced technology plays in preserving knowledge within the industry. The conference rounded out with a lively panel discussion among the speakers. Read more>> AFIA’s 2024 Equipment Manufacturers Conference focuses on “Feed Industry 4.0” Cellana, Inc. and PhytoSmart Inc., two companies in algae-based products and biotechnology, signed a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. Upon closing of the merger, PhytoSmart will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Cellana. Deena Sisitsky, CEO of PhytoSmart, will join the Cellana Board of Directors and will lead the Consumer Products activities for the combined company under the PhytoSmart™ brand name. According to the announcement, the combined company will benefit from an expanding portfolio of commercial products initially in the fast-growing Omega-3 supplement and sustainable nutrition sectors. PhytoSmart’s first commercial product is a whole algae pet supplement currently being sold via Amazon and through the PhytoSmart corporate website, in addition to select pet stores throughout the United States. PhytoSmart, based in Maine, USA, has a long-standing history of innovation in heterotrophic algae production based on its patented Sterile Plastic Algal Growth System (SPAGS) production technology. The SPAGS production technology is reportedly centered around the use of small, modular, low-capex, and highly scalable vertical bags and has been optimized for the commercial production of Omega-3-producing algae strains. Read more>> Biotechnology companies sign definitive merger agreement
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