The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) recently celebrated the graduation of 73 participants from its biennial Feed Industry Institute (FII) held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event featured a four-day intensive educational forum, designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the feed, pet food and feed ingredient industry. Attendees learned from industry experts and networked with peers, and also enjoyed a Minneapolis Twins baseball game.
Paul Davis, Ph.D., AFIA’s director of quality, animal food safety, and education, highlighted the value of returning to an in-person format. "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," he said.
Throughout the week, 24 expert speakers, referred to as "professors," delivered presentations covering a broad range of topics. These included animal physiology and nutrition, the role of various nutrients in animal diets, feed ingredients and additives, processing and formulation, customer service and communications, and feed industry regulations. The program also addressed related activities such as sourcing, logistics and grain trading.
One notable presentation was delivered by Adam Fahrenholz, Ph.D., from North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science. In his session, titled “Effects of Processing on Quality and Efficiency,” he discussed the significant impact of decisions made at every stage of feed manufacturing on downstream aspects such as nutrition, quality and customer satisfaction.
The event concluded with a graduation ceremony where attendees received certificates of completion. AFIA expressed gratitude to its sponsors, including gold sponsors Bentonite Performance Minerals, LLC, and Huvepharma, Inc., and silver sponsors Bill Bar and Company, Inc., Datacor, Hutchinson Salt Company, Inc., and Olsson Frank Weeda Law. The association also thanked its nutrition committee for organizing the event.
The next FII is scheduled for 2026. For more information on AFIA events, visit afia.org/events.
