More than 20,000 visitors are expected to flock to Atlanta in January, all heading to the World Congress Centre for the International Poultry Expo (IPE) and the International Feed Expo (IFE), which will take place on Jan. 28-30, 2009.
The IPE has become the global networking hub for the poultry industry. Every segment of the poultry and egg industries is represented and next year's showcase promises to be better than ever. In addition to the 900 exhibitors and strengthened educational programme, IPE 2009 will benefit from numerous new features.
The event has a long history with Atlanta–over 60 years–but time has not stood still in the exhibition halls. Next year, complimentary Wi-Fi will allow attendees and exhibitors to stay in-touch during their visit.
Additionally, cyber-centers will offer areas on both floors where broadband-connected computers will be available to collect e-mail and check the IPE/IFE product locators.
For members of the US Poultry & Egg Association who produce poultry products and members of AFIA who manufacture feed, buyer connection facilities will be available in an office complex on the show floor where buyers can meet suppliers in a distraction-free environment.
Regional insight
Also new to the 2009 show will be pavilions on the Connector Concourse highlighting the poultry and feed industries from Latin America and Asia. Each area will showcase pictures of the regions' top operations, as well as provide information on their potential.
China may dominate headlines, but Latin America should not be overlooked. Among the top five countries most represented at IPE 2008 were Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. This year's pavilions will offer Spanish and Portuguese translators. The Asian pavilion will have a Chinese translator.
Over the last two years, the IPE/IFE has been broadening its education programme, and 2009 has the strongest educational offering to date. The 2009 programme will see the International Poultry Forum take place on Jan. 26-27, covering areas such as environmental management, nutrition, physiology, pathology, processing and products, and disease. The meeting will bring together over 700 poultry scientists.
The Eco-Innovation programme, started at the 2008 show, will be continued in 2009. The programme will bring together exhibitors and informal displays providing a spotlight on how to become more energy efficient and how to take by-products and turn them into energy assets.
IPE will also host the Summit for Environmental Sustainability in Animal Agriculture, taking a look at how animal agriculture is addressing growing environmental concerns and examining the challenges posed by sustainability.
