ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The global rendering community is gearing up for the International Rendering Symposium, hosted by the North American Renderers Association (NARA) and US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The event will be held from Feb. 1 to 2, 2024, in room B-405 of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE).

NARA and USPOULTRY designed the 2024 symposium to reflect the ways in which the rendering industry fortifies international trade and global sustainability.

Day One of the symposium will kick off with a welcome message from Anna Wilkinson, vice president of communications at NARA, followed by a presentation of “Lifecycle Data on the Sustainability of Rendered Products for Pet Food,” presented by Charles Starkey, Ph.D., senior vice president of scientific services at NARA. Pet food consultant Miguel Lopez, Ph.D., will follow with his presentation, “The Pet Food Market in Latin America.”

Other agenda topics for the two-day conference include the importance of carbon intensity scoring, a conversation on food versus biofuel, rendered products for aquaculture, the global antioxidant supply, reducing food waste in China, and several speaker panels.

Symposium organizers will also host a networking reception on Thursday, Feb. 1, in room B-406 for all attendees and speakers.

NARA has also partnered with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), Pet Food Institute (PFI) and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in support of a workshop titled, “USDA-APHIS: a Dialogue and Digest,” on Jan. 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room A-404 and -405. Two USDA-APHIS representatives — Deborah Langford, Ph.D., import-export coordinator, and Katrina Fox, Ph.D., senior staff veterinary medical officer — will host the educational session to discuss policy decision making, the development of health certifications, and other important topics.

Early-bird registration for the 2024 International Rendering Symposium is now open, with rates increasing after Jan. 12. Find the full agenda on NARA’s website here, and register for the symposium and other IPPE events here.

Read more about pet food and treat industry events.