The 2024 Technical Congress and Annual Meetings of the Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from June 17 to June 19, hosted by the Pet Food Institute US.

This year's key themes were innovation and sustainability, both of which are important to global pet food makers and pet owners alike. To provide the latest in science-based nutrition to the world's pets, pet food makers continue exploring innovative ingredients to deliver the essential nutrition dogs and cats need, while also focusing on planet-friendly solutions. Continuing to develop ingredients and processes that are both nutritious and sustainable represents the future of pet food.

The GAPFA General Assembly elected a new Board and appointed new officers: Loretta Hunter (Nestlé Purina PetCare) - GAPFA President ; Carlos Gonzalez (Hill’s Pet Nutrition) - GAPFA Vice-President for Member Companies; and Ursula Huber (FEDIAF) - GAPFA Vice-President for Member Associations. GAPFA also welcomed two new corporate members to the association, FreshPet and Blue Buffalo.

With over 60 participants joining this year’s Technical Congress, GAPFA was delighted to welcome Eliza Clark, Senior Director of Sustainability, Cargill Protein and Salt, who delivered the keynote speech. GAPFA also heard from Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, who introduced the congress.

In addition to GAPFA member associations’ country/regional annual reports about their activities and emerging issues, the session on ‘Pet Food’s Sustainability Journey: Challenges and Opportunities’ featured insightful presentations from Carolyn Macgill (Pet Food Industry Association of Australia), Andrew Stephens (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service), and Nick Rozzi (Hill’s Pet Nutrition). Presentations in the session on ‘Innovation in Pet Food: Novel Ingredients’, included technical insights from Dr. Liz Koutsos (EnviroFlight), Cynthia Bryant (Bond Pet Foods), and Dr. Jerry Shurson (University of Minnesota). Additionally, Patrick Tovey (Pet Food Institute) presented on Pet Food Label Modernization in the US, and Steven Feldman from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) presented new research that demonstrates the many benefits of living with pets.

The Technical Congress was made possible with support from GAPFA’s sponsors Freshpet, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Takigawa, Kerry, Phileo by Lesaffre, and Peel Plastic Products Ltd.

As GAPFA celebrates 10 years in 2024, the General Assembly Meeting was an opportunity to showcase the many GAPFA milestones, including the GAPFA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health), the partnership with HABRI, growth in GAPFA association membership, new workstreams, a new website, factsheets on petfood and the benefits of living with pets and publication of the GAPFA guidance on dog and cat food nutrition.

Having adopted a strategic plan in February, this meeting was also an opportunity for the 3 GAPFA workstreams on Food Safety & Trade Facilitation, Nutrition and Communications to provide a progress report on their delivery of strategic plan so far this year including GAPFA participation at the WOAH 91st General Session in Paris in May, the adoption of GAPFA-supported amendments to the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the development of GAPFA educational tool for members on WOAH standards processes, the promotion of GAPFA Guidance on Dog and Cat Food Nutrition Guidelines, the launch of the GAPFA LinkedIn account, the establishment of a process for sharing of early warnings on emerging topics with potential global impact and the adoption of a communications plan.

The 2025 GAPFA Technical Congress and Annual General Meeting, open to GAPFA members and invited guests, will be held from June 23 to June 25 in Bangkok, Thailand, kindly hosted by the Petfood Industry Association Thailand.