With over 1,200 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors descending on Atlanta between January 30 and February 1 for the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer scale and variety of talks and activities on offer. But don’t let the most important three days in the industry calendar get away from you – The Poultry Site editorial team have selected their top 10 highlights of the 2018 schedule to help you navigate the show and come away with the most important insights for the year ahead.

The team behind the show at the Georgia World Congress Center do everything to inform and entertain their audience of industry professionals across the three-day show, which is themed around Innovation, Education, Global Reach and Networking – consider using the online show planner to keep track of what’s happening where and tick off all the stands you’ve visited. The exhibitors, who range from enormous multinational companies to smaller businesses, put on an amazing array of events, launches, demonstrations, tastings, talks and competitions – make sure to leave time to wander around and take it all in.

1 Dive in to the welcome reception

The largest aquarium in North America, with its population of tens of thousands of underwater beasties, is the dramatic setting for the IPPE welcome reception. It’s free, but there isn’t unlimited space, so don’t forget to pick up a sticker at the B-Building and C-Building kiosk so you can attend, and kick-start your show experience by networking in style.

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2 Size up the year ahead in poultry

The Poultry Market Intelligence Forum, a free IPPE educational program, is an invaluable opportunity to hear from a leading economist and industry experts about the forces shaping the global poultry industry in the year ahead. Economics, bird performance and the impact of animal rights activists on industry practices are all high on the agenda.

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3 Find out the latest scientific developments

Environmental management, nutrition, physiology, pathology, processing, products and avian diseases will all be on the agenda of the International Poultry Scientific Forum, a day-long event sponsored by the Southern Poultry Science Society, the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases and the US Poultry & Egg Association. Running the day before the official opening of the show, it’s a big draw for anyone interested in the latest research affecting the industry.

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4 Focus on sustainability

For a big picture look at how the livestock industries are adapting to a changing world, head to the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit. Defining sustainable practices and measuring their impact is not straightforward, and here experts share their experiences and aspirations for ensuring a sustainable future protein supply for the world population. Covers poultry, pork, beef and dairy.

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5 Embrace technical innovation

The cream of the show’s 2018 exhibitors get the chance to present their fixes for operational and technical issues facing the feed, meat and poultry industries at this series of short Tech Talks – selected by IPPE staff on their technical merit. The short format and practical applications make this an excellent option for busy producers.

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6 Peer into the future of robotics

Increasing efficiency is a foundational principle of the modern poultry industry, and the role of robotics in supporting streamlined processes is becoming ever more sophisticated. Robotics in the Meat and Poultry Industry: Putting Technology to Work is an unmissable session for anyone excited by the possibilities of increased robot use in poultry production and processing, and interested in the impact on labour.

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7 Meet the future of the industry

It’s exciting to hear from industry greats at stands and events throughout the show, and to network with them where possible, but IPPE also takes special care to support young people interested in the industry. With students meeting recruiters and 30 bright stars under 30 who wouldn’t otherwise have access to the show invited as part of the Young Leaders Programme, delegates shouldn’t miss out on the chance to meet those who will be shaping the industry in decades to come.

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8 Get beyond fake news

Misinformation is one of the biggest topics of our times, in agriculture as much as anywhere else. Get the Facts with Meat Mythcrushers is the splendid name of this session, where speakers from the North American Meat Institute look at some of the biggest myths food producers have to contend with in the media and among consumers, and offer tools for how best to talk through the issues with customers.

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9 Make biosecurity a priority

For the first time ever at IPPE, an educational session devoted to one of the key issues of our times: biosecurity. Defend the Flock – Biosecurity Basics for Poultry & Egg Producers and Live Operations Personnel features speakers from the National Poultry Improvement Plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Select Genetics and Hy-Line International on avian influenza outbreaks, the use of hidden cameras in biosecurity and more.

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10 Celebrate!

It doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Make sure to cut loose and get stuck in to some of the famous annual cooking and eating events that feature some of the best local chefs and produce around. Highlights include the 6th annual Chili Cook-off, where you can taste and vote on chicken, pork and beef chili recipes from some of Atlanta’s finest local chefs all competing for the ‘Best Chili’ title, and the BBQ Contest. A chance to celebrate the produce everyone works so hard on the rest of the year.

6th Annual Chili Cook-off

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BBQ Contest

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International Production & Processing Expo
January 30-February 1 2018
Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, Georgia

For an overview of the show schedule, click here

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of The Poultry Site Digital