Discover emerging technologies, see future trends and meet the professionals that are shaping the pet food landscape at Petfood Forum. The Petfood Tech Talk Stage showcases the latest products and capabilities from suppliers and innovators assisting pet food companies worldwide.
Petfood Tech Talks were among the most well-attended sessions in 2023 with many presentations at standing-room only. In 2024, we’ve expanded the program to add even more sessions providing attendees with maximum opportunities to see what’s next in pet food technologies.
Tuesday, April 30
9:50 a.m. | Videka | Presenters: Francine St Pierre, product director, pet food protection, and Charlie Connolly, antimicrobial business development and laboratory manager
>> Protecting fats for pet food from Salmonella, naturally — Natural antimicrobials are an additional barrier that can be used kill Salmonella in pet food raw materials. This is especially relevant for the poultry fat used in the coating step of pet food kibbles. Using a powerful anti-Salmonella solution that is effective at a low dosage, allows to preserve kibbles palatability as well as physio-chemical properties while produce a safe pet food for our pets.
10:05 a.m. | ProMach | Presenter: Troy Snader, senior vice president, business development
>> Recyclable/compostable films and machine compatibility — Tech talk for learning types of green films, challenges of running on equipment and modifications used for compatibility. Learn the latest innovations and modifications to handle the recyclable and compostable films on packaging machinery.
10:20 a.m. | Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics | Presenter: Dr. Abhijit Rathi, director of R&D, pet and human nutrition
>> Promote healthy skin coat, digestion & energy levels in dogs with enzymes, studies show — In vitro study results show adding DigeSEB Super Pet™ to dog food improved digestible energy, protein and dry matter digestibility, and increased the release of antioxidants from canine food. A case study found supplementing kibble with DigeSEB Super Pet ™ improved skin coat quality and physical activity in dogs. Explore how DigeSEB Super Pet™ can be a research-backed, value-add to your pet line!
10:35 a.m. | Parker Freeze Dry, a Division of ProForm Fabrication LLC | Matt Graunke, sales & marketing manager
>> Freeze Drying in the pet food industry – Why? — A brief introduction to statistics and data from the companion animal industry, covering the ‘why.’ We’ll cover topics like economies of scale, nutrition, logistics and overcoming challenges.
10:50 a.m. | Oterra | Ashlee Martin, senior application scientist
>> Browning the palette: Exploring natural solutions for pet food coloration — Join us for a comprehensive exploration of pet food coloration trends, regulations and natural alternatives. We’ll delve into the significance of brown in pet food aesthetics, shedding light on limitations and trends on caramels and their implications. Our discussion will highlight traditional caramel options, including class I-IV caramels and caramelized sugars, alongside innovative solutions like ‘Simply Brown.’ Additionally, we’ll examine alternative natural color blends, offering insights into sustainable and visually appealing options for pet food manufacturers.
11:05 a.m. | Buhler | James Maari, energy and resource efficiency project manager
>> Meeting the sustainability challenge: Quantifying environmental impact in the pet food industry — To meet sustainability goals driven by consumers and retailers, manufacturers need to quantify the environmental impact of their products. Buhler has quantified the impact of a typical pet food line, identifying key process steps that have the greatest impact. Come learn how to have the greatest impact on sustainability.
11:20 a.m. | Alltech | Presenter: Kami Grandeen, Alltech North America sales manager, companion animal
>> Prebiotics for pets: The next generation of gut-health solutions — A healthy gut is the foundation for strong immunity and optimal well-being in all animals, including our pets. Microbuild, a next-generation prebiotic fiber solution from Alltech, works to support a diverse microbiome and proper gut health in companion animals. Join us to learn how this unique prebiotic can play a key role in a complete gut health program for your pet.
11:35 a.m. | CEM Corporation | Presenter: Alicia D. Stell, Ph.D., market development manager
>> Moisture, fat and protein analysis of pet food — We will discuss the benefits of accurate moisture, fat and protein analysis of pet food, utilizing CEM’s rapid and efficient analyzers. These innovative technologies can analyze a wide range of incoming ingredients, intermediates and finished product with accuracy and precision that matches reference methods. Holding tight specifications for moisture, fat, and protein levels translates into high-quality food that is safe, flavorful and long-lasting for our pets while adding to the bottom line.
11:50 a.m. | Phileo by Lesaffre | Presenter: Russ Kelley, global program manager, PETS
>> Frozen in time, preserving life: How vitrification techniques ensure proven stability for yeast probiotics — Probiotic stability has long been a challenge for dry food application. Phileo by Lesaffre’s novel probiotic, ActiSaf Sc50 Pet is a novel yeast probiotic that has been specifically to promote gastrointestinal health in the cat and dog. In addition, the strain has been selected to accompany novel processing steps to provide proven stability post-application.
12:05 p.m. | Hiperbaric | Presenter: Daniela Sotoo, HPP food applications specialist
>> Benefits of using High-Pressure Processing in raw pet food production — High-Pressure Processing (HPP) brings unmatched safety and quality to raw pet food processing. This session explores the benefits of HPP based on scientific evidence – from ensuring food safety assurance through the 5-log reduction of pertinent pathogens (Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli.) to nutritional quality retention while preserving digestibility and nutrient bioavailability. Discover why HPP has become essential for pet food processors looking to capitalize on new market trends.
Wednesday, May 1
9:50 a.m. | United Sorghum Checkoff Program| Presenter: Julia Pezzali, DVM, MSc, PhD Director of Pet Food Program, Kansas State University, Associate Professor
>> Unleashing nutritional potential: Sorghum bran in pet food — The sorghum checkoff has partnered with Dr. Pezzali and Kansas State University to evaluate grain sorghum bran in canine diets. Sorghum bran boasts high levels of antioxidants and fiber. Hear from Dr. Pezzali on her findings thus far and what the next steps are for this exciting pet food ingredient.
10:05 a.m. | Schenck Process Food and Performance Materials (FPM)| Presenter: Jonathan Thorn, M.S., executive director, process technology
>> Using velocity control to optimize dilute phase conveying systems — Dilute phase pneumatic conveying is a prominent method of conveying pet food ingredients, but systems will often be operated with significant inefficiencies. Partially a construct of the design process but also the inability to adapt to changing conditions, most dilute phase systems will operate above the minimum convey velocity. Adding an algorithm to a new or existing system and controlling the performance can provide significant energy and operational benefits.
10:20 a.m. | APC LLC | Presenter: Dr. Joy Campbell, senior director of global pet food technical service
>> Utilizing plasma-based ingredients in non-traditional applications — Learn about three exciting new applications to help cost effectively improve formulas and increase pet acceptance using plasma based ingredients. Testing shows success increasing fresh meat inclusion while maintaining kibble quality, producing a fluid, meaty gravy and creating appealing lickable products.
10:35 a.m. | Format Solutions Inc. | Presenter: Ian Mealy, product marketing director-formulation
>> From aspiration to reality: Modeling and optimizing pet food production with advanced formulation technology — Are you struggling to achieve pet food product development aspirations amongst day-to-day production, supply chain, and quality challenges? Discover how advances in formulation techniques and improved integrations with software such as PLM, ERP, LIMS, and MES can deliver nutritional quality in the real world, improving cost control and profitability.
10:50 a.m. | Hollison | Presenter: Mallory Gandhi, Ph.D., CTO
>> Probiotics and their application into pet food diets – Probiotics are a growing value-added ingredient in pet food manufacturing, and their appropriate incorporation into manufacturing processes and finished goods is necessary to deliver best health benefits. We will summarize what probiotics are, why they are important in pet food, and a strategy to optimize probiotic incorporation into pet diets.
11:05 a.m. | Zinpro Corporation | Presenter: Allison Millican, Ph.D., global technical service, companion animal lead
>> The quest for quality: building trust through excellence — Trusted vendor partnerships are essential in ensuring product quality and consistency that in turn builds trust with end consumers. Through our patented mineral technology and manufacturing process, we ensure customers receive the highest standards for purity and safety. Learn how our product quality, traceability, and in-house testing capabilities are pivotal in earning your business and trust.
11:20 a.m. | ETSA Portugal | Presenter: Andre Almeida, R&D director
>> Unleashing the future of sustainable pet nutrition: harnessing hydrolysis expertise and encapsulation strategies — We invite you to delve into the innovative development process that has led to the creation of a protein hydrolysate, delivering exceptional nutritional values tailored specifically for pet food formulations. With a keen focus on sustainability and a natural production method, a thermo-hydrolyzed protein has emerged, enzyme and reagent free and with enhanced palatability, functionality and bioavailability. In addition, we will take a step further and describe the unique capacity of this hydrolyzed protein to microencapsulate other essential ingredients.
