Feed & Grain recently had an opportunity to speak with Sarah Novak, vice president of membership and public relations, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA). They discussed the association's experience since forming the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and later being joined by the North American Meat Institute along with what the AFIA has planed for 2018 IPPE.
Feed & Grain: IPPE has been named one of the top 25 fastest growing trade shows by the Trade Show News Network, what would you cite as the reason for the exponential growth and do you expect it to continue in 2018?
Sarah Novak: If I had to boil it down to one word it would be: leadership. This annual conference brings together 32,000 industry leaders from around the world to discuss new ideas and take part in forward-looking educational programs unmatched anywhere else. Not only are the networking opportunities endless, but industry experts have the ability to preview the latest technologies and products that help them modernize their businesses for the future.
F&G: What have been the advantages of combining the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute trade shows into one?
Novak: Combining the three shows into one has helped IPPE attract more than 1,200 exhibitors, leading to a showroom that spans more than 12 acres of cutting-edge equipment, technology and services equipment. Between the exhibitors and sponsors, the show can now offer over 140 hours of educational sessions for attendees, helping keeping them informed of the latest policies and trends impacting the feed, meat and poultry industries.
F&G: What changes have been made for this year’s IPPE?
Novak: This is the second year the conference has sold out its showroom floor, boasting wall-to-wall exhibits. Attendees who are interested in the animal food industry should come to both the B and C halls, where they will see many exhibitors in feed manufacturing and equipment.
We also have a new and improved conference mobile app—IPPE 2018 By Map Your Show—available for iPhones and Androids. The app is a quick way to access exhibitor’s listings, the floor plan, schedule of events, and receive live updates.
F&G: Is the animal food side of the show growing as quickly as the rest of the show?
Novak: Absolutely. Since 2007, we have grown 198 percent in square feet on the show floor. Our members have told us that IPPE is the show to be at if you are looking to learn about new technologies in feed manufacturing equipment or ingredients or to navigate the latest federal regulatory requirements.
F&G: What should attendees from the feed industry expect this year?
Novak: Attendees should expect to hear from the cream of the crop of the animal food industry. The American Feed Industry Association will announce its Feed Facility of the Year, which recognizes overall excellence in feed and ingredient manufacturing operations. They can also hear from experts on the latest policy developments in Washington, D.C., and about tools and resources AFIA offers to help its members comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act, among other federal requirements.
F&G: What events or educational sessions is the AFIA putting on at IPPE this year?
Novak: On Jan. 30, 2018, AFIA is proud to offer its 11th annual Pet Food Conference. From modernizing pet food labels to evaluating new pet food ingredients, this affordable conference is sure to give the nearly 400 industry attendees the information they need to be effective in a changing and ever-growing marketplace.
On Jan. 31, AFIA will also once again offer its Feed Production Education Program, which is free to all IPPE attendees. The half-day session is ideal for feed facility managers, operations personnel and mill personnel looking to learn the latest regulatory requirements that impact their businesses. This is where the Feed Facility of the Year will be announced.
On Jan. 31-Feb. 2, AFIA will host a three-day training course to certify a limited number of participants as preventive controls qualified individuals (PCQI) for their animal food manufacturing facilities. This training, developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as the standardized curriculum that is adequate for PCQI training.
There are also a few other free educational programs in which feed industry attendees should take advantage. On Jan. 30, the North American Meat Institute will be offering a session that assists family business owners on using outside advisors and board members to help their businesses grow and succeed. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association will also be offering a free session that day on ways that the beef, dairy, pork and poultry industries can work to define, drive and measure sustainability efforts.
Conference attendees should also stop by the “Tech Talks,” happening on the exhibit floor in halls B and C on Jan. 30-Feb. 1, which are short technical presentations on a variety of topics from production technology to food safety to sustainability. Leah Wilkinson, AFIA’s vice president of legislation, regulatory and state affairs, on Jan. 31 from 1-1:40 p.m. in hall C will be speaking on the feed ingredient approval process.
F&G: What are you most excited about when it comes to IPPE 2018?
Novak: Getting in 10,000 steps a day! There is so much to see and do at IPPE, from seeing old industry friends to taking part in the sessions to networking and special events, that there is never a dull moment. Aside from that, there are many opportunities to explore all that Atlanta has to offer. We encourage you to stop by the American Feed Industry Association’s booth #3509 in the C hall.
