ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will host a one-day Pet Food Conference at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., Jan. 27, 2015. The educational conference will discuss nutrition, trade and certification programs impacting today’s pet food and pet food ingredient manufacturers.

More than 10 speakers will address a variety of topics at the conference, including Dr. Daniel McChesney, director of office of surveillance and compliance at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, who will provide agency updates and the impact on the pet food industry.

The conference will feature several other industry experts including Dr. Colin Basler, Center for Disease Control and Prevention; LeAnn Chuboff, Safe Quality Food Institute; Marianne Smith Edge, International Food Information Council; Richard Ten Eyck, The Association of American Feed Control Officials; Dr. David Meeker, National Renderers Association; Janet Riley, American Meat Institute; Dr. Charles Starkey, American Proteins; Dr. Kelly Swanson, University of Illinois; Gina Tumbarello, AFIA; and Svetlana Uduslivaia, Euromonitor International.

There will also be a pet food safety panel featuring Jolyda Swaim, Olsson, Frank and Weeda, and other pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, which will give an update on the proposed Food Safety Modernization Act rules, food safety plans and sampling. 

IPPE is expected to attract more than 28,000 attendees and is a collaboration of three trade shows -- International Poultry Expo, International Feed Expo and International Meat Expo -- representing the entire chain of protein production and processing.