1. Welcome reception. Join attendees and exhibitors at the welcome reception on Tuesday, January 31, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the world's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium. There is no charge to attend this networking event.
2. The show floor. The 2017 IPPE will feature more than 1,200 exhibitors, 510,000 net square feet of exhibit space and attract 30,000 attendees from 140 countries. In addition to showcasing the newest technologies, the show floor will hold several fun events including poultry, beef and pork cutting and cooking demos; a chili cook-off; and hot dog toss.
Who: The poultry, feed and meat industries
What: 2017 International Production & Processing Expo
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
When: Tuesday, January 31, to Thursday, February 2, 2017
Educational programs begin on Monday and run through Friday.
3. International Poultry Scientific Forum. This forum on Monday, January 30, and Tuesday, January 31, will present information on industry topics such as environmental management, nutrition, physiology, pathology, processing and products, and avian diseases. Register on the IPPE website.
4. Understanding and Achieving Operational Excellence. This free session on Thursday, February 2, will take a look at the manufacturing strategies being embraced by leading companies and how these strategies help companies build a framework for systems of operational excellence.
5. Meat and Poultry Labeling: Issues and Approvals. Meat and poultry labeling policies are constantly evolving to address marketing claims, consumer demands and regulatory requirements. This workshop on Monday, January 30, will address confusion on generic label approval, product naming, marketing claims and new regulatory requirements. Register on the IPPE website.
6. Get the Facts with Meat MythCrushers. The goal of Meat MythCrushers is to crush the myths and provide referenced facts so consumers can make informed choices. This free session on Wednesday, February 1, will cover information on some of the top myths and provide attendees with tools needed to talk to consumers and customers about the way food is produced.
7. Environmental Conference for the Meat & Poultry Industry. Learn how industry leaders are dealing with key environmental issues through the sharing of best practices and gain practical information to help your business from expert speakers in this session on Monday, January 30, and Tuesday, January 31. Topics will include resource conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, regulatory compliance and more. Register on the IPPE website.
8. Tech Talks. Formerly the Technology XChange, these short educational presentations will be given by exhibitors regarding operations and technical issues critical to all aspects of the feed, meat and poultry industries. The presentations will be in the Event Zone, Booth C1305, on Tuesday, January 31, and Wednesday, February 1, from 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
9. Poultry Market Intelligence Forum. Industry experts will provide insights on how the domestic and global economies, continuously improving the performance and animal rights activists impact the poultry and egg industries in this free session offered on Wednesday, February 1.
For more information about the 2017 IPPE, visit www.ippexpo.org.
10. Meat Quality Workshop: Know Your Muscle, Know Your Meat. Learn more about how production and processing variables affect the quality of your products in this interactive workshop on Wednesday, February 1. Presentations from academic and industry experts will take a look at muscle profiles and the main factors affecting tenderness, flavor, and functionality. Increase your knowledge of basic meat science and see how the latest data and information can be applied to increase the quality of your products. Register on the IPPE website.
11. FSMA Hazard Analysis Training. This seminar on Thursday, February 2, and Friday, February 3, will highlight a generic hazard analysis report and provide processes for determining what applies to feed facilities, including feed mills, pet food plants and ingredient manufacturing and distribution sites. Participants will receive the hazard analysis in advance. This meeting is open to AFIA members only.
12. College Student Career Program. Whether seeking fulltime jobs or internship opportunities, the College Student Career Program provides a mutually beneficial experience for students and industry recruiters. The three-day event during the show provides employers with an opportunity to meet, interact and interview qualified college students.
13. Pet Food Conference. This annual educational session on Tuesday, January 31, attracts more than 200 attendees from pet food manufacturing to ingredient suppliers covering all ingredient categories, offering an excellent opportunity to network with this diverse audience. Register on the IPPE website.
14. Pork 101. Designed for IPPE attendees to see the highlights of AMSA’s three-day Pork 101 conference, this free session on Monday, January 30, will cover quality and consistency issues in the pork industry, including insight on value differences in swine, pork carcasses, pork primals and processed pork products due to quality variation.
15. Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit. This continuing program, offered free to attendees on Tuesday, January 31, will provide viewpoints from industry and agricultural experts on sustainability and why it matters to the animal agricultural industry, as well as how to communicate sustainability efforts to consumers, suppliers and industry stakeholders.
16. Feed Production Education Program. As regulatory requirements for the feed industry continue to expand, this free training session on Wednesday, February 1, will update participants on recent changes from several federal agencies including DOL, DOT, EPA, FDA and OSHA.
17. Setting Up for Success: Processed Meat Product Introductions. This free session on Wednesday, February 1, will cover consumer trends and potential growth areas in the ready-to-eat product arena. Attendees will learn about the most important factors and challenges in new product introductions, including packaging, product appearance, product texture, product consistency and effective use of line extensions.
