2026 Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit to Debut at IPPE

The highly anticipated 2026 Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit is set to take place at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta. Organized by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), and the Meat Institute, this impactful event will occur on Tuesday, January 27, and is complimentary for all registered attendees of the IPPE.

Summit Overview

The Summit is designed to delve into critical advancements in animal agriculture, focusing on sustainability practices that improve environmental performance and production efficiency. It will feature two key segments:

• Genetics and Production Innovation for Sustainability – Moderated by the Protein PACT
• Air Quality and Ingredient Innovation for Sustainability – Moderated by the Institute for Feed Education and Research

The event will kick off with the announcement of the USPOULTRY 2026 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Awards, followed by a welcoming address from Paul Bredwell, Executive Vice President of Regulatory Programs at USPOULTRY.

Featured Topics and Speakers

Genetics and Production Innovation for Sustainability

• A Downstream View of Production System Opportunities
  Presented by Mark Pitman, Sustainability Engineer, Pitman Farms
• Driving Progress in Swine Production: Genetic Innovation and Biosecurity
  Presented by Dr. Lindsay Case, Director of Product Commercialization & Sustainability, Genus PLC
• Question and Answer Panel Session

Air Quality and Ingredient Innovation for Sustainability

• Air Quality Benefits for Production Efficiency Improvements
  Presented by Dr. Hongwei Xin, Dean of AgResearch and Director, Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
• Ingredient Innovations to Reduce Production Footprint
  Presented by Dr. Steve Lerner, Senior Scientific and Business Advisor, Novonesis
• Feed Ingredient Selection: Accounting for Sustainability Improvements
  Presented by Dr. Charles Starkey, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, North American Renderers Association
• Question and Answer Panel Session

The Summit will conclude with an interactive session for questions and feedback, moderated by Ryan Bennett, Executive Director of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs / International Poultry Welfare Alliance.

IPPE 2026 Details

The IPPE will be held from January 27-29, 2026, bringing together three significant trade shows: the International Feed Expo, International Poultry Expo, and International Meat Expo. This collaboration represents the entire protein production and processing chain, with sponsorship from USPOULTRY, AFIA, and the Meat Institute.

For more information regarding the IPPE—including registration details, lodging, and educational offerings—visit ippexpo.org.

Source: US Poultry & Egg Association