Continuing its role as the leading event for pet food professionals, Petfood Forum 2025 is returning to Kansas City will a full agenda focusing on emerging trends and the latest innovations. The event is designed to bring the most up-to-date research, technological advances and insights into one place, with myriad opportunities to network with fellow pet food industry professionals.
The conference begins on April 29 with an opening keynote by Ernie Tedeschi, with the Budget Lab at Yale Law School, on the macro-economic outlook, forecasting changes in the economy, inflation, consumer spending, labor force and financial markets. On April 30, Michael Allison, CEO of the Adversity Academy, will deliver a session on overcoming self-imposed barriers, focusing on leadership under pressure.
Concurrent education sessions will cover hot topics including AI in the pet food space, the pet microbiome and functional ingredients, novel proteins, new processing technologies and more. Attendees can also learn about pet food advances through student research presentations, supplier-led Tech Talks and hundreds of exhibits from leading pet food companies.
Petfood Forum focuses on networking, with multiple receptions, meals and coffee breaks, plus special appearances by animal-related charities.
The expanded 2025 exhibit show floor features 70+ new exhibitors showcasing the latest products and innovations for the pet food space.Paul Ward Photography
Petfood Forum 2025 agenda (as of press time)
Monday, April 28
7:45 a.m. Petfood Essentials registration/check-in with light breakfast
8 a.m. Exhibitor move-in
8 a.m. Petfood Essentials preconference seminar
8 a.m. Petfood Forum registration
4:15 p.m. Petfood Forum Essentials mixer
5:30 p.m. Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials opening reception
Petfood Forum focuses on networking with multiple receptions, meals and coffee breaks, including the opening reception Monday night.Paul Ward Photography
Tuesday, April 29
7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Registration
7 a.m.-2 p.m. Cash coffee bar
7-8 a.m. Breakfast
8-8:50 a.m. Welcome and opening keynote: Macro-economic outlook and what it means for pet food companies and pet owners. Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics, Budget Lab at Yale Law School, provides a forecast for upcoming changes and events with the economy, inflation, consumer spending, the labor force, the financial markets and other key indicators, helping pet food businesses plan for what may come next.
9:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Exhibit hall open
9:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Visiting pet charities
9:15-9:45 a.m. Coffee break
9:35 a.m. Pet Food Tech Talks
9:45 a.m. Petfood Forum Student Program research presentations
12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch, exhibit hall; includes Women in Petfood Leadership area
1:30 p.m. Concurrent sessions
Career development and leadership
Connectivity and leadership — Karen Jones, vice president of learning and partner solutions for NextUp. This track is powered by Women in Petfood Leadership. Open to all Petfood Forum participants.
Pet food ingredient sessions: The pet microbiome and functional ingredients
Biotics in pet food and modulation of feline gut microbiome by diet and biotic supplementation — Jeff Alix, global head of business development, palatability and microbiome, and Brian Klein, Ph.D., principal scientist, microbiome, DSM-Firmenich.
Repeatability of the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic on gut fermentative metabolites and microbiota in dogs — Jan Suchodolski, Ph.D., professor, associate director and head of microbiome sciences, Texas A&M University
Safety and functional benefits of a cultured protein for use in dog food formulations — Anne Ballou, Ph.D., technical director, SIWA; Matt Longshaw, Ph.D., research and application manager, Calysta Ltd.; and Wendy Vandersteen, BSc., MSc., Ph.D., manager of research and development, Taplow Ventures Ltd.
Pet food market sessions: Market data with health and wellness deep dive
2025 pet economy report — Diana Rosero-Pena, equity research analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence.
How perceptions of health and wellness impact US pet owner attitudes and pet food spending — Shannon Landry, pet brand manager, Packaged Facts.
Leveraging a ‘foodback’ loop to integrate real-world pet health data into recipe design, product innovation — Tara Zedayko, chief science officer, Ollie Pets.
Pet food nutrition sessions: Focus on senior pets
Bioavailability and effects of collagen hydrolysates using an in vivo to in vitro approach for canine osteoarthritis — Niels Blees, MSc., DVM, Ph.D. student, Utrecht University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Enhancing muscle health and longevity in aging canines with HMB supplementation — Shawn Baier, vice president of business development, TSI Group Co.
Flavor preference in cats across life stages — Ana Rita Monforte, Ph.D., flavor and data manager, AFB International.
Pet food technology sessions: AI focus areas
Transformative potential for AI in pet food innovation, sales creation and sustainability — Rajan Lukose, Ph.D., chief data scientist, Cambridge Technology.
AI is transforming marketing: What are the benefits, challenges and applications for pet food? — Hana Bieliauskas, senior vice president and partner, Inspire PR Group.
Understanding AI to streamline pet food manufacturing — Matt Lueger, executive vice president of sales, Northwind Technical Services, and Bill Ward, founder and CEO, Northslope Technologies.
2:35-3:00 p.m. Coffee break
3:10 p.m. Concurrent session tracks continue
Career development and leadership
Panel discussion: Women in pet food share their leadership experiences
Join executives from the pet food industry as they discuss their experiences in leading people and businesses. This track is powered by Women in Petfood Leadership. Open to all Petfood Forum participants.
Pet food ingredient sessions: Sustainable ingredients
Exploring fresh African game meat in pet food for novel, sustainable approach to nutrition — Angelique Myburgh, nutrition and development specialist, Montego Pet Nutrition.
Harnessing blood-derived proteins from the meat industry for sustainable pet nutrition — Roger Gerlach, director of global pet food sales, APC.
Sustainability and nutrition considerations for supplementing omega-3s in companion animal diets — Alexandra Rankovic, MSc., Ph.D., research associate, University of Guelph.
Pet food market sessions: Ingredients trends and consumer perceptions
Pet food ingredient trends: Insights from 2024 sales — Lara Moody, executive director, Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER).
Novel proteins and today’s pet parent: What’s next? — Nicole Hill, executive director, strategy, MarketPlace.
Insect protein in pet food: Assessing consumer perceptions, knowledge and willingness to pay — Lonnie Hobbs, Ph.D., assistant professor, and Aleksan Shanoyan, Ph.D., professor, Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics.
Pet food nutrition sessions: Obesity, life stages, nutrient profiles
Unraveling the myth of dietary carbohydrates and feline obesity: A meta-analysis and study findings — Hannah Godfrey, BSc.H., MSc., Ph.D. candidate, University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College.
Innovating pet nutrition: Combating the pet obesity epidemic with new food approaches and ingredients — Kathy Gross, Ph.D., adjunct professor, Kansas State University Pet Food Program.
Time to reconsider NRC and AAFCO guidelines for amino acid requirements in dogs? — Claire Timlin, Ph.D., director of research and development, Four Rivers Kennel.
Pet food technology sessions: New processing technologies
New methods in high-moisture extrusion for creating innovative, diverse and nutritious wet pet food — Jenni Harrington, director of sales and technology, Buhler Group.
Starch gelatinization in extrusion cooking of pet foods: Balancing quality and sustainability — Ed de Souza, extrusion systems process director, Wenger Manufacturing.
Optimizing microbial control in pet food: Understanding traditional and innovative methods — Daniela Soto Castro, HPP food specialist, Hiperbaric.
4:10-6:00 p.m. Networking reception with Women in Petfood Leadership area
4:30-5:30 p.m. Student Program/industry poster researchers meet and greet
In addition to education sessions, attendees can learn about pet food advances through student research presentations and supplier-led Tech Talks.Paul Ward Photography
Wednesday, April 30
7 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration
7 a.m.-2 p.m. Cash coffee bar
7:15-8:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:15-9:00 Wednesday opening session: Break the bottle: How to shatter limiting beliefs and achieve peak performance in pet food development and marketing. Michael Allison, CEO of the Adversity Academy Leadership Development Co., delivers a message designed to help leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals break through the self-imposed barriers that hold them back.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Exhibit hall open
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Visiting pet charities
9:30-10:00 a.m. Coffee break, exhibit hall
9:30-11:30 a.m. Petfood Forum Student Program presentations
9:35 a.m. Pet Food Tech Talks
11:30-11:45 a.m. Announcement of Student Research Competition Awards
11:50 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00-2:15 p.m. Closing panel discussion: The state of U.S. pet food ingredient approvals. Join representatives from AAFCO, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), FDA and the Pet Food Institute (PFI) as they discuss the current state of approvals and other regulatory and legal matters and answer your questions.
Learn more and register at PetfoodForumEvents.com.
Petfood Forum loves sharing its space with special appearances by animal-related charities.Paul Ward Photography
