World Grain - March 2024 - 34

RECORD-SETTING
More than
31,000
delegates
attended this
IPPE
T
by Arvin Donley and Susan Reidy
he International Production and Poultry Expo
(IPPE) appears to be back and better than ever
after being interrupted by the COVID pandemic
year's IPPE,
the largest
turnout this
decade.
earlier this decade.
The 2024 IPPE, sponsored by the American Feed
Industry Association (AFIA), the North American
Meat Institute and the US Poultry & Egg Association,
was the largest in history in terms of the number of
exhibitors (more than 1,400) and exhibit space (more
than 621,000 square feet). With 31,353 attendees, it
also approached the record turnout of nearly 33,000
delegates in 2019.
Constance Cullman, president and chief executive
officer of the AFIA, told World Grain she was heartened
by the turnout, especially considering how the
momentum of the event had been stalled by the pandemic,
which forced the IPPE to be canceled in 2021.
The conference and expo, which is held each year at
the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, saw a
gradual uptick to 22,000 delegates in 2022 and 27,000
in 2023.
" We are beyond back to pre-COVID levels; we're
super excited, " Cullman said during day two of the
event. " We've had a record number of exhibitors. We
had record floor space occupation, and it looks like
we're heading toward record attendance. We are seeing
people really excited about being here and doing business,
so the hallways are flooded, the education ses34
sions
are flooded. It has been a wonderful show so far,
and we're hoping to really finish out strong. "
Cullman noted that this year's event also featured numerous
feed industry-related presentations designed to
help feed industry executives and employees succeed.
" We're hearing a lot of real thought-provoking questions
coming up in our education sessions, " she said.
" It's really spurring people to think about how we best
position our industry going forward. Those are the type
of conversations and feedback we're hearing in our
education sessions. "
AFIA Feed Education program
The AFIA Feed Education program on Jan. 31 included
updates on the latest regulatory developments in the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Food
and Drug Administration (FDA).
" Jason Lents provided a great presentation on the
forthcoming OSHA heat illness standard and how companies
should start implementing written, comprehensive
safety plans to prevent and manage heat injuries or
illnesses, a new area of focus that manufacturers need
to be aware of and consider at their facilities, " said
Gary Huddleston, director of feed manufacturing and
regulatory affairs at the AFIA. " Overall, the AFIA educational
program provided a quick overview of what
else is coming down the pike this year that may impact
March 2024 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
2024 event sets mark for most exhibitors, boasts near-record attendance
Photos by Arvin Donley
http://www.World-Grain.com
World Grain - March 2024

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