NEWS 28 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2025 The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Pet Food Conference concluded, attracting a record-setting 500 attendees to discuss the latest trends and opportunities, research and regulatory updates in the pet food industry. The AFIA held the conference on January 28, in conjunction with IPPE 2025. “It is exciting to see the continued growth of the AFIA Pet Food Conference, reflecting the industry’s commitment to growth and innovation,” said Louise Calderwood, AFIA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs. “This year’s conference delivered valuable insights on everything from novel ingredients used in pet food and the latest consumer trends in pet food, to addressing critical regulatory updates. Staying up to date with these changes is essential for the industry, and we appreciate the engagement from our record-breaking audience and look forward to continuing these conversations in the years ahead.” The 2025 conference featured sessions on pet food marketing trends, novel ingredients used in pet food, working dog nutrition and academia’s role in industry advancements. Several speakers focused on the changing regulatory environment for pet food, with Austin Therrell, executive director of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and Leah Wilkinson, AFIA’s Vice President of Public Policy and Education, discussing recent changes to the animal food ingredient approval processes. Read more>> The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Production Compliance Committee hosted its annual Feed Education Program during IPPE 2025, covering what the animal food industry can expect from U.S. federal regulators in 2025. Program speakers discussed upcoming priorities for the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, along with AFIA’s 2024 educational program opportunities and a discussion of artificial intelligence (AI) in feed manufacturing. “With all the regulatory updates and changes, it’s more important now than ever for feed manufacturers to stay ahead of compliance changes. From injury and illness recordkeeping to heat injury prevention, these regulations directly impact facility operations and worker safety. Our goal is to ensure AFIA members have the resources they need to navigate these changes effectively,” stated Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s Director of Feed Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs. "Overall, the AFIA educational program provided a quick overview of what else is coming down the pike this year that may impact manufacturers’ ability to do business.” The program featured Christian Richter, Principal at The Policy Group, who discussed what we can expect from a second Donald Trump presidency, from a regulatory freeze of recent Biden administration regulations to the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the implementation of the Department of Government Efficiency. Read more>> AFIA’s Pet Food Conference wraps up with record-setting attendance AFIA hosts annual Feed Education Program
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