WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the Pet Food Institute (PFI) are partnering to host the 2019 Feed and Pet Food Joint Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., in late September. It will include industry leaders and education sessions designed to help feed and pet food companies navigate the regulatory environment as state and federal regulators begin inspecting facilities for compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules.

The conference also will feature expert insights on shifting market demands and the impact of a tumultuous trade environment on the feed, pet food and livestock sectors, as well as their supply chains.

“Over the last decade, the Joint Conference partnership between the feed and pet food sectors has fostered a collaborative approach, ranging from ingredient sourcing, to manufacturing and distribution, and to encouraging practical and achievable ways to comply with FSMA regulations across the supply chain,” said Randy Gordon, president and chief executive officer of the NGFA, and Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the PFI. “We are excited to include topics this year relevant to manufacturers and ingredient suppliers working to stay ahead of emerging issues and policies, from the evolving trade negotiations to consumer expectations and crisis preparedness.”

Designed specifically for the feed and pet food sectors, the Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 conference, to be held at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., addresses pressing policy, regulatory and operational issues that companies face in today’s business environment.

In addition to updates on the FDA’s enforcement of FSMA and other regulatory priorities, the conference will feature keynote sessions on emerging trends specific to feed and pet food regarding sustainability, information technology and trends in the ingredient marketplace.

Speakers include:

  • Dr. Steven Solomon, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.
  • Jenny Murphy, consumer safety officer at the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Office of Surveillance and Compliance.
  • Ambassador Gregg Doud, chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative.
  • Sue Hays, executive director of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
  • Mike Beam, secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
  • Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, who will provide a market outlook and trends in the livestock and ingredient industry.
  • Randy Stuewe, CEO of Darling Ingredients, who will discuss sustainability initiatives in the rendering industry.
  • Hinda Mitchell, president of Inspire PR Group, who will provide timely advice on information transparency and crisis management.
  • Dr. Cassie Jones, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University, who will lead a feed breakout session on biosecurity measures to protect against foreign animal diseases.
  • Dr. Ansen Pond, director of quality assurance and food safety for Pilgrim’s, who will provide a renderer’s perspective on poultry protein meal nomenclature.

For more information and or to register, click here.