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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.<\/p>\n
Petfood Tech Talks were among the most well-attended sessions in 2025 with many presentations at standing-room only. In 2026, we’ve expanded the program to add even more sessions providing attendees with maximum opportunities to see what’s next in pet food technologies.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Petfood Tech Talk Stage is sponsored by Symrise<\/strong><\/p>\n 9:20 a.m. | Trouw Nutrition | Presenter: Dr. Sofia Wilson, companion animal nutritionist 9:35 a.m. | Datacor | Presenter: Annette Lundeen, senior manager, product management<\/strong> 9:50 a.m. | Zinpro | Presenter: Laura Amundson Ph.D., research & discovery lead, global pet<\/strong> 10:05 a.m. | Parker Freeze\u200b | Matt Graunke, executive sales representative 10:20 a.m. | APC | Dr. Joy Campbell, senior director of global pet food technical service 10:35 a.m. | Coperion | Presenter: Jonathan O. Thorn, executive director, processing technology 10:50 a.m. | Ecolab | Presenter: John H. Hanlin, PhD., vice president of food safety 11:05 a.m. | CEM Corporation & Certified Group | Presenters: Eileen Stochl, product manager, and Jay Alappat, Ph.D.,\u00a0 chief science officer \u2013 chemistry 11:20 a.m. | Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics | Presenter: Dr. Abhijit Rathi, director of R&D, pet and human nutrition 11:35 a.m. | Stratum Nutrition | Presenter: Marie Parks, ingredient science specialist 11:50 a.m. | Jefo Nutrition Inc. | Presenter: Emilie Fontaine, vice president of brand and products<\/strong> 12:05 p.m. | Reiser | Presenter: Paul McKeithan, senior vice president of business development 12:20 p.m. | Kemin Pet Food and Rendering | Presenter: Cristina Murcia Garcia-Sr., technical service manager 9:20 a.m. | Phileo by Lesaffre | Presenter: Russ Kelley, global program manager, pet<\/strong> 9:35 a.m. | M\u00e9rieux NutriSciences | Presenters: Alexandra Miller, global key account manager and Kris Newton, business development manager, expert partners<\/strong> 9:50 a.m. | Kerry | Presenter: Ricardo Moreia, business development director-food protention 10:05 a.m. | The Haskell Company | Presenter: Zary Peretz, senior analyst 10:20 a.m. | Alltech | Presenter: Kami Grandeen, technical manager, petfood 10:35 a.m. | BCF Life Sciences | Presenters: Ludovic Lair, pet care business unit leader and Pierrick Kersante, pet care R&D manager<\/strong> 10:50 a.m. | Cargill | Presenter: Jess Jarett, R&D prinicipal scientist, pet 11:05 a.m. | ProMach | Presenter: Troy Snader, senior vice president, secondary-business development<\/strong> 11:20 a.m. | Eurofins Nutrition Analysis Center | Presenter: Kari Nichols, business development director<\/strong> 11:35 a.m. | Novonesis | Presenters: Marcial Guevara, global senior technical product manager – pet and Rebecaa Replogle, nutrition science leadTuesday, April 28<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
>> Blending premixes that perform: The four components of a well-designed premix <\/strong>\u2014 This presentation explores how ingredient blending impacts premix quality and outlines the four essential components of a well-designed premix. While formulators often focus on active ingredients, additional components are essential to achieving a uniform premix, as even small variations in premix composition can significantly affect performance and nutrient delivery in finished pet food.<\/p>\n
>> Beyond least cost: Turning formulation into a decision driver <\/strong>\u2014\u00a0Managing formulas often gets stuck in a least-cost mindset, but real-world decisions are rarely that simple. Every formula change affects nutrition, claims, palatability, operations and manages business risk and bottom line financials all at the same time. In this session, we\u2019ll look at how modern formulation tools help teams proactively evaluate trade-offs, test scenarios before making changes, and make assumptions clear so they can make smarter, data-decisions.
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>> Minerals and movement: Advancing canine mobility with performance minerals <\/strong>\u2014 Mobility is essential to a long, thriving life, and nutrition plays a vital role in sustaining healthy movement. Because declines in mobility can begin long before visible signs appear, foundational nutrition is important at every life stage. What if rethinking the form of an essential nutrient could help dogs move better, recover faster and stay active longer? Join this Tech Talk to see new research showing how Zinpro\u00ae Performance Minerals\u00ae supported improved mobility outcomes in healthy adult dogs after a structured exercise challenge and increased daily activity in senior dogs.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Commercial freeze drying in the pet food industry <\/strong>\u2014 This presentation provides a practical overview of freeze drying, from core fundamentals and key system components to the critical parameters that drive performance and product quality. We\u2019ll explore why recipe development matters, how yield is influenced by process variables, and where freeze drying delivers the greatest advantages across applications. Real-world examples will connect theory to execution, helping you better understand how to optimize results from concept to scale.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Natural protein-based colorants: The role of spray dried animal blood cells in pet food <\/strong>\u2014 Natural protein\u2013based colorants are gaining momentum. Spray-dried red cells deliver a rich, authentic meaty appearance while contributing protein value. This session will explore how manufacturers are leveraging red cells to meet clean-label expectations and enhance product visual appeal naturally.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Extruder hood designs that promote sanitary processes <\/strong>\u2014\u00a0Recent developments in extruder hood design are helping pet food manufacturers in their battle against microbial contamination. By reorienting the traditional vacuum takeaway system, a key process risk can be eliminated. In addition to improved product safety, plants can also gain improved process control through use of a sanitary extruder hood.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Why dry matters: Strategies to prevent Salmonella proliferation in low-moisture pet food and treats <\/strong>\u2014 Salmonella is both a canine and human pathogen, and outbreaks of foodborne illness affecting pets and humans have been linked to dry dog food and pet treats. These outbreaks have resulted in product recalls. This presentation will focus on new research on the survival and recovery of Salmonella in dry environments. Cleaning and sanitizing strategies to reduce food safety risk will be discussed in light of new research.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Sustainable solutions for compositional analysis <\/strong>\u2014 Ensure product quality while eliminating solvents and reducing test times. CEM\u2019s easy-to-use analyzers provide reference chemistry accuracy for moisture, fat and ash in a fraction of the time traditionally required. From raw and incoming ingredients to in-process slurries and finished kibble, accurate analysis is just a start button away.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Advancing canine oral care: Enzyme-probiotic formulation demonstrates antimicrobial and clinical benefits <\/strong>\u2014 Researchers evaluated Bactase Pet PB\u2122, an enzyme-probiotic formulation for pet oral health, through in vitro testing and a 30-day randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in dogs. Results demonstrated significant reductions in plaque, gingivitis, bad breath and bacterial load, with strong anti-biofilm activity. The study provides microbiological and clinical evidence supporting enzyme-probiotic supplementation as an innovative, science-backed strategy to address periodontal disease and elevate health and wellness in companion animals.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Proactive pet health: A clinically validated oral probiotic for next-gen innovations <\/strong>\u2014 As pet owners shift toward preventative care, oral health is emerging as a high-impact innovation space. This session reviews the science behind OraCMU\u2122, a patented probiotic shown to reduce key markers of halitosis and plaque in dogs. Attendees will gain insight into how microbiome-based oral care can drive product differentiation, premium positioning and long-term brand growth.<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0Redefining stability and bioavailability: Jefo Matrix Microencapsulation revolution in pet food<\/strong> \u2014 Creating high-performance pet food is a balancing act, often compromised by aggressive minerals that degrade vitamins and limit bioavailability. This session introduces Jefo Matrix Technology, which uses advanced lipid engineering to physically isolate reactive ingredients, ensuring they survive the journey from the premix to the gut. Discover how to bridge the gap between economic efficiency and biological performance, making precision nutrition simpler and more predictable for you.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Market trends shaping the future of pet food manufacturing <\/strong>\u2014 The pet product market is shifting from volume-driven to value-driven growth, as health-conscious consumers demand higher quality, transparency, sustainability, and convenience. Manufacturers must adopt flexible, agile technologies to meet evolving expectations. The move from traditional kibble to alternative and human-grade formats is reshaping retail shelf space, requiring producers to adapt processes and collaborate with suppliers to deliver customized solutions efficiently.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Designing the next generation of pet diets<\/strong> \u2014 The need for sustainable, functional and ethically-sourced ingredients are transforming the future of pet diets. This presentation will intertwine market insights, consumer perceptions, and real-world case studies that are shaping ingredient innovation and acceptance in the pet food industry.<\/p>\nWednesday, April 29<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
>> Yeast extracts: Solutions for companion animals <\/strong>\u2014 Yeast extracts are natural ingredients that can offer an array of benefits to foods, treats, or supplements that target companion animals. Yeast extracts can be rich sources of essential nutrients or bioactive compounds as well providing unique flavor profiles. The exact benefit or combination of benefits are dependent upon strain, fermentation conditions, extraction processes, and post-extraction processes.<\/p>\n
>> Teaching an old plant new tricks: Retrofitting for pathogen control <\/strong>\u2014 Most pet food facilities aren’t new builds, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be world-class in safety. We\u2019ll discuss how to modernize your sanitary design without tearing down the walls.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Freshness fetched: Delivering science-backed shelf-life extension for refrigerated pet food<\/strong>\u2014 Refrigerated pet food is on the rise, but so are the risks. Ricardo Moreira will present the fresh pet food solutions for total food protection, shelf life extension and pathogens control with clean label and kitchen-friendly ingredients, backed by predictive microbiology and real-world results.<\/p>\n
>> Digital twins for line tuning and optimization in the pet food industry <\/strong>\u2014 Digital twins can create virtual environments that enable engineers to explore different improvement opportunities on existing and new lines. Haskell will share two recent uses of this technology to explain how simulation can support better decision-making and line performance improvements. Lessons learned and keys to success will be highlighted.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> From bioavailability to benefits: A fresh look at proteinate trace minerals in pet diets <\/strong>\u2014 Research in dogs and cats has shown that the right form of trace minerals can promote vitamin stability, shelf life and palatability. Alltech\u2019s Bioplex range of highly bioavailable proteinate trace minerals, are designed to optimize pet health by supporting nutrient absorption, immunity and overall wellness. Learn how Bioplex proteinates can boost your formula and your brand.
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>> Boosting cat wet food palatability with natural free amino acid solutions<\/strong> \u2014 Cats\u2019 highly selective palates make wet food palatability notoriously difficult to optimize. Conventional systems often rely on amino acids and sugars for Maillard reactions\u2014but that\u2019s only part of the story. At BCF Life Sciences, we have developed naturally derived and balanced free L-amino acid mixes through extensive hydrolysis, shown to effectively stimulate feline umami receptors and significantly enhance palatability in wet cat food.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> Postbiotics beyond the gut: Holistic benefits of TruMune in aging dogs<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Postbiotics are well known for their positive effects on digestive health and immunity, but their benefits in other areas of pets\u2019 well-being are just starting to be explored. We present new research results on holistic impacts of supplementation with TruMune in older pet dogs, in areas such as nighttime rest and occasional discomfort-related behaviors. We also demonstrate support for critical species in the gut microbiome including Peptoclostridium hiranonis in a real-world population of dogs.
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>> The sustainability shift: Rethinking films and oxidation in modern pet food<\/strong> \u2014 Market trends in pet food are increasingly challenging manufacturers to deliver fresher products while maintaining acceptable shelf life. At the same time, sustainability goals, consumer expectations and emerging state legislation are creating competing pressures that can feel difficult to reconcile. This presentation explores practical strategies to address oxidation through advances in machinery and film technology, helping producers balance performance, compliance and environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n
>> Analytical considerations for pet food<\/strong> \u2014 Pet Food Label Modernization has brought dietary fiber front and center within the pet food and ingredient industries. This Tech Talk will introduce the commonly used methods as well as discuss high-level thoughts on considerations for pet food testing specifically.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>>> The emerging role of enzymes in pet food<\/strong> \u2014 Enzymes represent an exciting new frontier in pet food. While they are widely used in livestock feed, their adoption in pet nutrition is still in its early stages. This presentation will explore how enzymes have traditionally been used and highlight the untapped opportunities they offer to elevate product quality and support pet health across the pet food industry.
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