Petfood Forum presents
Ask the Pet Food Pro
A series of chats with experts for anyone who wants to learn more about pet food.
Your questions, answered.
Get answers to your burning questions on some of the most important topics and issues for the pet food industry and, possibly, your business.
Petfood Forum presents Ask the Pet Food Pro, a series of chats offering access to leading pet food experts who answer your direct questions, discuss the key elements within a given situation or topic, and provide insights into addressing it.
Join this free, informal Zoom chat to learn what you need to know to move forward and succeed!
Upcoming chats:
May 21, 2025, at 10 AM CDT.
“Pet Health from the Inside Out: The Microbiome’s Expanding Role” – The gut microbiome could be the next big leap in pet health—impacting far more than digestion. Emerging research shows the microbiome plays a central role in pet wellness, influencing immunity, skin health, cognition, and even behavior. For pet food brands, understanding how to support a healthy microbiome through diet is becoming a key differentiator in product development and brand trust. Join us for our next live Ask The Pet Food Pro Zoom chat with Cargill’s Jess Jarett, Ph.D., and Mark Franklin, Ph.D., as they explore the latest findings in pet microbiome science. Learn what we know about the gut ecosystems of dogs and cats, the most effective ways to analyze them, and how to translate microbiome health into visible results for pet parents. Don’t miss this chance to stay ahead of the curve and bring science-backed innovation to your formulations. This Ask The Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Cargill.
Next-gen pet food: Nutrition, preservation and innovation insights
Pet food ingredient producer Kerry hosts this live panel discussion on the future of pet food nutrition and preservation. Experts John Menton, Sr. Director, Global Pet Food Business Development for Proactive Health at Kerry, and Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, Business development for Food North America and Global Pet Food business for Food Protection and Preservation technology at Kerry, will discuss research-driven approaches to improving pet health, extending shelf life and developing new formulations. Join the discussion to explore proactive health solutions for pets and learn about predictive modeling and accelerated shelf-life platforms that are shaping breakthrough pet food innovation. This Ask The Petfood Pro session is sponsored by Kerry.
Using humor and managing anger in leadership
Powered by Women in Petfood Leadership. Join Jon Evans, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Division at Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia (UBC), to learn how to develop and enhance your leadership skills by mastering signaling behavior. Find out the beneficial effects of being humorous, showing anger, framing power, and displaying curiosity. After his presentation, Evans will be joined by a panel of women pet food leaders, including Leah Lambrakis, vice president of research and development, nutrition and scientific affairs for Simmons Pet Food and Simmons Animal Nutrition, and a steering team member of Women in Petfood Leadership; Betty McPhee, consultant and also a steering team member; and Anna Kate Shoveller, Ph.D., professor and Champion Petfoods Chair in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism at the University of Guelph. Be prepared to ask them all your questions about leadership!
Pet food processing controls to inactivate avian influenza virus
In this interactive Zoom conversation with industry expert Dr. Mary-Grace Danao, Research Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, you will learn ways to ensure your pet food processing methods inactivate HPAI and mitigate risks. This Ask The Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Extru-Tech.
Fighting Oxidation: Why Antioxidants are Essential
During this interactive session, join Melissa Weber, Ph.D., Director of Technical Sales & FSQR at Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition, for a discussion on why antioxidants are essential in fighting oxidation in pet food and treats. Pet parents are looking to extend shelf life, and brands need to have the answers to their demands. This session will provide actionable insights to help formulations thrive on the shelf. This Ask The Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition.
Yeast derived health solutions for dogs and cats
Biotics are transforming the pet food products with their ability to support and promote health across numerous species, including dogs and cats. This growing category of functional ingredients—encompassing probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics—goes beyond gastrointestinal health to deliver benefits such as improved immune function, enhanced growth rates, quicker recovery and support for various physiological systems. In this exclusive Ask The Pet Food Pro Zoom chat, Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, Purina PetCare Endowed Chair for Microbiome Research and associate director and head of microbiome sciences at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University, will dive into: Differentiation of biotic categories; Gastrointestinal health through functional ingredients; Applications of probiotics in pet food; and A detailed comparison of yeast-based and bacteria-based probiotics. This Ask The Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Phileo.
How to reduce pet food drying energy usage and carbon emissions
As production costs increase and sustainability continues to grab more mindshare in pet food customers, there are several ways to meet both challenges for pet food producers. In this exclusive Ask The Pet Food Pro, Dave Carney, Area Sales Manager-NAM-Petfood & Aquafeed, Bühler, will discuss different approaches to reducing emissions while lowering conveyor dryer operational costs. This interactive Zoom chat will also cover quick and easy wins pet food producers can employ now that will have a significant impact, dryer enhancements that provide long-term results, and heat source fuel options that can lower or even eliminate CO2 emissions. This Ask the Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Bühler.
Unlock the potential of freeze-dried pet food: A practical guide for manufacturers
Are you ready to expand your pet food manufacturing capabilities and tap into the growing demand for freeze-dried pet food? Join Matt Graunke, sales and marketing manager at Parker Freeze Dry, as he breaks down everything you need to know about the freeze-drying process and why it’s gaining traction in the pet food industry. Learn the basics of freeze-drying, including the process, components, and science behind it. Understand the benefits of freeze-drying over traditional methods, including shelf life, nutrient retention, and consumer appeal. Find out what it takes to implement freeze-drying, including equipment, labor, skills, and a step-by-step look at the production process. This session will help pet food manufacturers assess the opportunities and challenges of freeze-drying and provide actionable insights to help your products succeed in this growing market. This Ask the Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Parker Freeze Dry.
Regulatory risks: Functional pet treats vs. health supplements
Pet treats are not the same as pet health supplements and vice versa, particularly when it comes to how they are regulated and the product and marketing claims you can make for functional treats vs. supplements with non-nutritional health benefits. In this interactive Q&A with regulatory expert Bill Bookout, president of the National Animal Supplement Council, you can learn some of the dos and don’ts for making claims as well as the key factor that determines how a product is regulated. This Ask the Pet Food Pro session is sponsored by Balchem and Pet Food Compliance.
Insect protein in pet food: Latest innovations and trends
Insect protein in pet food and pet treats keeps rising in terms of research, usage, and innovation as more production comes online, regulations catch up and new products proliferate. Join Aaron Hobbs, executive director of the North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture, and Mark Finke, Ph.D., president of consultancy Mark Finke LLC, for expert insights and updates on the latest nutritional benefits, market and production status, and regulatory actions. Bring your questions about all things pet food and bugs! This live Ask the Pet Food Pro Zoom chat is sponsored by EnviroFlight.
Promoting health while preventing food waste in pet food
During this one-hour zoom discussion, join Christie Cheng, Business Development Manager for Food Protection & Preservation, and John Menton, Business Development Director for Proactive Health, for a session designed with the modern pet parent in mind. In recent years, pet parents have wanted food, treats, and supplements that promote the health and longevity of their pets, but with a demand for a longer shelf life and reduced food waste. This session of Ask the Pet Food Pro is sponsored by Kerry and presented by Petfood Industry.
Benefits of using natural colors in pet food and treats
Pet owners often seek natural ingredients in the pet foods they buy yet may not understand the reasons and benefits for adding natural colors. Color has a significant impact on product perception and pet parents often base their first-time purchases on what they see with their eyes. To meet pet parent expectations of clean-label pet foods, many manufacturers are seeking natural colors in formulations to differentiate from other pet food products on crowded store shelves. In this Ask the Pet Food Pro chat, Ashlee Martin, senior applications scientist for pet food at Oterra, will address the technical side of using natural colors in kibble, semi-moist treats, baked treats, and wet dog and cat food. In addition, she will answer regulatory questions related to colors in pet food. This Ask the Pet Food Pro chat is sponsored by Oterra and presented by Petfood Industry.
Will hemp and CBD ever be viable, legal pet food ingredients?
Hemp and CBD are everywhere, including in pet treats and other pet products, legally or not. What is the future for these popular yet controversial substances? In this Ask the Pet Food Pro chat, Emily Lyons, an attorney with Husch Blackwell, will cover the differences between hemp and CBD, the latest regulatory updates on both related to pet food, and enforcement (or lack thereof) of regulations for both. She’ll also expand on what pet food and treat brands need to consider when using either ingredient, including labeling do’s and don’ts. This Ask the Pet Food Pro chat is presented by Petfood Industry.
Why precision in pet food extrusion is key
Pet food manufacturers today are looking for equipment and technology that allow them to produce a specific product with precision control for features such as cooking level, color, shape, and size. At the same time, they want to save on raw materials and energy. During this Ask the Pet Food Pro discussion with Enzhi Michael Cheng, Ph.D., global business development manager, pet food and aqua feed, for Buhler, you’ll learn how precision can be achieved for the entire production line, how to innovate using a single screw extrusion system and how to minimize raw material and energy waste. Sponsored by Buhler.
Upcycling low-value proteins into sustainable pet treats
Demand for pet treats has continued to increase, while at the same time, protein availability is at an all-time low, leading to supply chain issues and rising costs. In this Ask the Pet Food Pro chat, Charles Starkey, Ph.D., professor in the Poultry Science Department of Auburn University, will answer your questions and explain his research on new food technologies, such as hydrocolloids, that can help upcycle low-value proteins and other meat co-products into functional proteins that improve sensory properties and add stability to restructured pet treats. Dr. Starkey will also describe how this upcycling program improves sustainability for both the pet food and protein conversion industries while serving to introduce students to opportunities in the pet food industry. Sponsored by Balchem Corp.
Improve your pet food packaging productivity with automation
Automation technology is critical for helping your company improve productivity for packaging and processing at your facilities, and understanding that has become a challenge for most operations managers. Max Davis, general manager with Waldner NA, will provide answers and insights to help bridge the gap between what your product development team wants to do with the packaging components and how the operations group will accomplish it. He will take questions on handling processes that produce a variety of packaging finished products, how to balance the processed packaging needs for eCommerce vs. brick and mortar, and factory automation challenges when your facility is producing multi-format materials. Sponsored by Waldner North America.
Food additives to enhance pet food safety
Greg Aldrich, Ph.D., nutritionist, research professor, and coordinator of the pet food production research program at Kansas State University, shares study highlights and answers questions about employing food additives in the quest for pet food safety. Sponsored by Balchem. Due to a technical error, no recording will be available for this Zoom chat; we apologize. To access some of the research on food safety additives for pet food referred to by Dr. Greg Aldrich during the chat, please try searching the Journal of Animal Science (https://academic.oup.com/jas), Journal of Food Protection (https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/journal-of-food-protection/) and Plos One (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/). Use his name or specific ingredient names as search terms, or a phrase such as “food safety additives for pet food.
The benefits of digital pet food packaging
What is digital packaging, and how does it differ from more traditional types of pet food packaging? Learn the main elements and advantages of digital packaging, and get all your questions answered by experts Paula Kuhnert, product specialist and Sadie Leu, marketing manager, of Roastar. They will explain features such as sustainability, flexibility and turnaround times. Sponsored by Roastar.
Optimize your pet food ingredient supply chain challenges
Drew Turner, regional sales manager for Coperion’s Food Industry Market, discusses the measures pet food producers are making to their feeding and conveying practices when switching out ingredients due to supply chain or cost issues. Sponsored by Coperion.
Coloring pet food and treats: Understanding technical, regulatory aspects
Ashlee Martin, senior pet food application scientist for Oterra, discusses the use of colorants in pet food and treats, and how to help you get the best results when using colors in your product. In addition, she will address questions related to the regulatory landscape when using colorants. Sponsored by Oterra.
Using clean label ingredients in pet food and treats
Ellis Liu, Ph.D., technical manager-pet food for Ingredion Inc., explains what clean label pet food ingredients are and how to utilize them in complete diet and treat applications, as well as with different processes. With his many years of experience in both human food and pet food, this expert will answer all your questions about incorporating these ingredients into your brand’s pet foods and treats. Sponsored by Ingredion Inc.
Pet food mycotoxins: How to test and prepare for 2022
Mycotoxins are a common issue for pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, requiring constant monitoring and vigilance to prevent contamination of pet foods. Do you have a testing strategy, and do you know how to watch and prepare for possible contamination in the coming months? Christy Swoboda, technical services director with Romer Labs, discussed projected mycotoxin prevalence in 2022, tips for monitoring and testing, and other best practices to follow. She was joined by Randall Ford, chief scientific officer with Red Collar Pet Foods.
Pet food recalls: Best practices and lessons learned
Michele Sayles, Ph.D., executive director of food safety and technology for Diamond Pet Food, provides her expertise on how to prevent recalls — including for contaminants like mycotoxins—and how to handle them if they occur.
Pet food transparency: What could be the next DCM-like issue?
Ryan Yamka, Ph.D., founder of Luna Science and Nutrition and longtime pet food nutritionist, developer and formulator, discusses and answers questions about ways the industry can step up and avoid being caught unprepared for situations like the FDA investigation into canine dilated cardiomyopathy and grain-free pet food.
Novel proteins: What the latest research says about nutritional benefits for pets
Kelly Swanson, Ph.D., professor researching comparative nutrition and nutrigenomics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, provides answers and insights into what recent studies show about novel proteins and their effects on pet health and well-being. Sponsored by OvaInnovations.
Sustainability and pet food packaging
Scott Whiteside, Ph.D., professor with the Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences Department at Clemson University, explains why consumer demands for sustainability often conflict with those for premium packaging, and answers your questions about how to make your pet food packaging more sustainable. Sponsored by Peel Plastics.
Want access to more pet food experts?
Make plans to attend the Petfood Forum on April 28-30, 2025, to learn from additional pet food industry experts. The must-attend conference will present the latest insights and research on pet food market trends, ingredients, nutrition, sustainability, safety and technology.