ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) celebrated 73 graduates from its biennial Feed Industry Institute (FII) in Minneapolis on June 20. Graduates participated in a four-day educational program, learning about the industries of animal feed, pet food and ingredients.
“We are excited that FII returned to an in-person format this year, which allowed for more engaging and interactive sessions,” said Paul Davis, Ph.D., director of quality, food safety. of animals and education at AFIA. “The excitement of reconnecting face-to-face and the dynamic exchange of knowledge truly enhanced the overall experience, marking a successful and memorable event for all involved.”
During the program, attendees learned from 24 experts from various fields of the animal nutrition industry. Topics include animal physiology; the role of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals; types of ingredients and additives; processing and formulation; customer service and communications; and regulations. FIIs also cover industrial activities, such as sourcing, logistics and grain trading.
For example, attendees heard from Adam Fahrenholz, Ph.D., post-doctoral research scholar in North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science in his session “Processing Effects on Quality and Efficiency.” Fahrenholz emphasized the importance of decisions at every stage of animal feed creation, from ingredient selection to processing methods, and how they affect nutritional content, product quality and customer satisfaction.
“Everything we do in feed production will have an impact, and those impacts need to be considered,” he said.
In addition to expert-led education, attendees also had the opportunity to network with industry peers.
AFIA’s FII concludes with a graduation ceremony, where attendees receive a certificate of completion.
2024 FII was sponsored by Bentonite Performance Minerals, LLC, Huvepharma, Inc., Bill Bar and Company, Inc., Datacor, Hutchinson Salt Company, Inc. and Olsson Frank Weeda Law. The next FII program is slated for 2026.
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