The American Feed Industry Association celebrated the graduation of more than 80 professionals from its biennial Feed Industry Institute, a four-day educational program designed to strengthen technical knowledge and industry connections across the animal feed sector.
Held in Minneapolis, the institute brought together participants from the feed, pet food and feed ingredient industries for intensive coursework, networking and discussions with experts from across the supply chain.
The program featured 26 speakers, including university professors, nutritionists and industry specialists, who led sessions on the science and business of feed manufacturing. Topics included animal physiology and nutrition for monogastric, ruminant and companion animals, along with the role of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals in feed formulations.
Attendees also studied feed additives and supplements, processing methods, customer relations and communication strategies, as well as the regulatory framework that governs animal food production.
The curriculum extended beyond production and nutrition, covering business areas such as ingredient sourcing, logistics and grain merchandising, areas that remain critical to feed manufacturers and grain handlers.
Industry leaders said the program is intended to provide participants with a broader understanding of the animal food industry while helping them establish long-term professional relationships.
In addition to classroom instruction, the institute incorporated networking opportunities through group events. Participants attended a St. Paul Saints baseball game at CHS Field and took part in an agriculture trivia competition designed to reinforce lessons from the program and encourage collaboration.
The institute concluded with a graduation ceremony, where participants received certificates of completion.
AFIA said the Feed Industry Institute remains a key professional development program for advancing knowledge and leadership across the feed and grain industries.
Source: American Feed Industry Association, "AFIA Celebrates Over 80 Graduates at Feed Industry Institute"