AFIA’s Pet Food Conference Recap: What to Expect for the Future of Pet Food

This year’s American Feed Industry Association Pet Food Conference is packed with a wide variety of topics on the agenda regarding the future of the pet food industry, at a time when pets are increasingly considered valued members. of the family. Drawing nearly 500 industry professionals, a record number of attendees, the event served as a testament to the pet food industry’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and meeting consumer needs.

To set the stage for the day-long conference, Lynn Dornblaser, director of innovation and insight at Mintel, explored the trends and consumer preferences driving the industry. One significant change he highlighted is the rise of personalized pet diets, tailored to match a pet’s DNA, providing a new level of individualized care. In addition, he noted that there is a growing preference for pet foods made from natural ingredients, without any additives or preservatives. These preferences reflect consumers’ preferences for their own food choices. Moreover, sustainability has emerged as a major concern, with consumers pushing for more eco-friendly packaging.

“Looking at the big picture, personalization of the product and formulation, products that are natural and easy for the consumer to understand and, of course, sustainability are all trends that are important for the pet food industry,” explains Dornblaser . “Pet owners want to know what’s in a product, why it’s there and how it got there.”

In keeping with emerging trends within the pet food industry, the conference covered sustainability in two sessions. Charles Starkey, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the North American Renderers Association, spoke about how the use of rendered products, such as proteins and fats, can be a practical option for pet food and other products. Rafael Auras, Ph.D., professor in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University, spoke about the ongoing pursuit of sustainable pet food packaging. Auras emphasized the importance of the industry working in a collaborative effort with packaging suppliers in developing products and packaging systems focused on minimizing their impact on the environment, while still protecting the integrity and quality of pet food inside.

Next came a panel discussion with Ambassador Doug McKalip, chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the US Trade Representative, and Alexis Taylor, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. The panelists emphasized the role that US pet food exports play in the country’s overall export landscape, explaining that in recent years, there has been significant growth in US pet food exports worldwide, with 2022 alone witnessing exports exceeding $2 billion. Notably, Canada, China, and Mexico emerged as the top three markets for US pet food exports, underscoring the need to look at the potential for further expansion.

McKalip and Taylor emphasized the importance of nurturing existing relationships while exploring new avenues for growth, with a focus on regions such as Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, characterized by with the growing middle class increasingly investing in the care of their pets. They said the collaboration between USDA and USTR stands out as important in facilitating trade and ensuring competitive pricing to maintain export momentum. In addition, initiatives, such as trade missions, serve as important platforms for establishing connections and fostering growth. In a world where countries are adopting different approaches, and trade and innovation are developing rapidly, these missions facilitate cross-cultural understanding and help pet food exporters to cover emerging opportunities.

“You can’t spend too much time with a trading partner, which helps really tell the story,” said McKalip, speaking on agriculture and production in the United States. “Every trading partner can benefit from further understanding of the stewardship and care our suppliers put in.”

To end the conference with a very forward-looking topic, Kelly Swanson, from the Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, presented on the buzz around biotics. Swanson spoke about the complexities of studying biotic effects on the gut microbiome and the promising findings from research on probiotic interventions, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches to pet nutrition. animals and health care.

This year’s AFIA Pet Food Conference highlighted several key themes that we can expect to shape the future of the pet food industry, including a more personalized approach to pet food diets and demands for more natural and sustainable products and packaging. As pet food continues to evolve, driven by changing consumer preferences and technological advances, the industry is well poised for a future defined by innovation, sustainability and improved pet welfare.