AFIA Education Programs Offer Something for All and Have an Eye on the Future

Written by: Paul Davis   |   August 14, 2024

IPPE, LFS, EMC, Pet Food Conference, Education, Feed Education Program

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." - B.B. King 

Indeed, there are many inspiring, philosophical quotes out there that hint at the beauty and value of learning. Education is often mentioned as the key to positive change in the world. Some go so far as to liken education to life itself. If you look at the benefits of education through a more fiscal lens, perhaps the quote below may resonate with you as well.  

“The more you learn, the more you earn.” – Warren Buffett 

Regardless of how you perceive the value of education, we are all teaching and learning as we go through life. We learn from friends, family and colleagues; even children can be great teachers! I was fortunate to have a mother, grandmother and several other family members that served as public school teachers. The value of formal education was instilled in me at a very young age and, fortunately, it is part of my role at the American Feed Industry Assocation (AFIA).  

As part of our Engagement promise, at the AFIA, we are providing opportunities for specialized training, professional education and networking. These are offered in different formats and venues to help accommodate different learning styles, subject matter and time commitments. Below you can read more about our current offerings and some new educational opportunities the AFIA team is working on now. 

Current Offerings 

AFIA offers qualified individual training in a short, downloadable video, and each year, we hold a multi-day, in-person, preventive controls qualified individual (PCQI) training. Both help facilities comply with personnel requirements as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), yet the former can be completed solo in a few minutes, and the latter is held in a group of 60 or so and has opportunities for instructor interaction, group exercises and networking.  

For those who prefer learning in more of a university setting, five times per year, the AFIA and Kansas State University offer the six-week AFIA/KSU 500: Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing. The online course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of feed manufacturing, covering topics such as: the process flow from particle size reduction to batching and mixing, conditioning and pelleting, boilers, post-pellet systems, packaging and loadout and maintenance. Selected portions of the course are available on-demand and are accessible anytime at an attractive price.  

Member feedback has repeatedly identified networking with industry peers as one of the most valuable components of in-person educational events. The AFIA offers five events which are solely or heavily educational. The Feed Education Program at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is a partial day session, updating participants on recent changes from several federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Labor and Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Also, at IPPE, AFIA’s Pet Food Conference is a daylong event, which covers a variety of topics from regulatory and technical aspects of production to product claims, marketing and nutrition. 

Beyond IPPE, AFIA’s Liquid Feed Symposium is designed to educate and promote all segments of the liquid feed industry, including manufacturers, nutritionists, sales and marketing and additional industry support companies. Likewise, AFIA’s Equipment Manufacturers Conference is a similar event for the equipment sector of the feed industry. Finally, AFIA’s Feed Industry Institute (FII), which we recently held in Minneapolis, Minn., provides a great educational forum that takes attendees on a journey from the size and scope of the animal food industry, through differences in animal digestive tracts, nutrient requirements, ingredients, processing, formulation, logistics, sales, regulations and advocating for agriculture. FII will be coming back to Minneapolis in 2026, so stay tuned for more on this biennial conference. 

Upcoming Educational Opportunities 

As part of AFIA’s three-year strategic plan, several educational endeavors are on the horizon. A cross departmental team is working to produce an “Introduction to the U.S. Animal Food Industry” video, intended to be used in multiple ways as a means of educating global and domestic audiences about the scope and breadth of the U.S. animal food industry.  Also, in the realm of new resources, look for a workshop offering to help facilities create and implement sustainability programs. Additionally, a new course, co-created with Iowa State University, will be offered to help with developing, implementing, documenting and maintaining an animal food safety program.  

Other enhancements to AFIA’s existing educational resources will include a thorough update of chapters in the Feed Manufacturing Technology (FMT) resource, updating content in the aforementioned Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing course, and the addition of a “hot topic” from the regulatory or communications area of our industry to our semi-annual legislative and regulatory webinars.  

Whether you are a life-long learner, are looking for a credential to help with that next job promotion, or simply enjoy networking with industry peers, AFIA’s educational programs have you covered. We look forward to hosting you online or seeing you in person at our next educational program!