Food Waste to Animal Feed – A Virtual International Conference 2024.03.26 20:00---2024.03.29 24:00

The University of Minnesota, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Feedstuffs are collaborating on the development of educational content related to the upcycling of food waste into animal food. The goal is to communicate and educate those in the feed and feeding industries globally about the value of food waste for livestock.

Acknowledging that food waste is a broad topic, this conference will address the issue of food waste in general along with its global scope overall but will be largely focused on food waste further upstream where the larger, more consistent quantities by sources occur and there is a greater stability in maintaining nutrient content. "Case study" examples that provide insight into various business models addressing all stages of the supply chain will be included.

The conference will run approximately three hours over the three consecutive weekdays, starting at 7 am (Central) each day to allow for global participation and discussion of various aspects of the food waste topic. The format will be 15-minute presentations on the current knowledge and challenges related to food waste for animal feeding, as well as 15-minute case study presentations.

Hosts for the conference will be Dr. Jerry Shurson, Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, and Dr. Zhengxia Dou, Professor of Agricultural Systems, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Speakers include global and regional experts on various topics. Day One will be focused on the opportunities that exist, Day Two on the challenges and Day Three on the solutions.

Conference sponsors include the North American Renderers Association, World Wildlife Fund, International Ingredients Corp., American Feed Industry Association and the US Grains Council. This conference is also supported by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant.

DAY ONE: What are the opportunities? (Live session)

2024.03.26 20:00-23:30 (Asia/Shanghai)

①Overview of opportunities, challenges, and solutions of upcycling food waste to animal feed (15 minutes)

- Dr. Jerry Shurson, Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

②Why should we care about food loss and waste? (15 minutes)

- Dr. Rosa Rolle, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Economic and Social Development Stream, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy

③How can upcycling food loss and waste to animal feed contribute toward low-carbon and resource-efficienies around the world? (15 minutes)

- Clementine O’Connor, Programme Management Officer, Sustainable Food Systems, United Nation Environment Programme, Paris, France (Invited)

④What we know and don’t know about where, what, and how much food loss and waste occurs in various countries? (15 minutes)

- Dr. Xinping Chen, Professor, College of Resource and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

⑤How does upcycling food waste to animal feed compare with other options for mitigating climate and resource burdens? (15 minutes)

- Dr. Zhengxia Dou, Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Pennsylvania

⑥What types of food loss and waste are best suited for animal feed? (15 minutes)

- Dr. Jerry Shurson, Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

⑦Does feeding food waste support optimal animal production performance? (15 minutes)

- Dr. Sarah Rassler, Dairy Production Fellow, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Pennsylvania

Case studies

①Using culled fruit waste in lactating dairy cow diets (15 minutes)

- Dr. Linda Baker, Professor, and Dr. Joe Bender, Associate Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Pennsylvania

②Food-For-Feed in circular and sustainable pig and chicken production systems (15 minutes)

- Karel van der Velden, Business Development Manager, Nijsen Company, Veulen, Netherlands

③The JiaBoWen story of upcycling food waste to animal feed in China (15 minutes)

- Dr. Yingcheng Wang, Postdoctoral fellow, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China

④Upcycling food waste into pet food (15 minutes)

- Eric Adams, CEO, Dogs & Whistle reducing the carbon paw print, Las Vegas, NV, USA

DAY TWO: What are the challenges? (Live session)

2024.03.27 20:00-23:30(Asia/Shanghai)

①Feed safety risks of various food waste sources (15 minutes)

- Dr. Jerry Shurson, Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota

②Government policies, regulations, incentives, and progress for using food waste in animal feed in various countries (panel)

Japan (15 minutes)

- Dr. Tomouki Nakaishi, Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

South Korea (15 minutes)

- Dr. Jae Cheol Jang, Professor, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea

China (15 minutes)

- Dr. Jianguo Liu, Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

United States (15 minutes)

- Leah Wilkinson, Vice President, Public Policy and Education, American Feed Industry Association, Arlington, Virginia

European Union (15 minutes)

- Alexander Romme, President, European Former Foodstuff Processors Association (confirmation pending)

Case studies

①What are the regulatory pathways for using various food waste streams in animal feeds in the U.S.? (15 minutes)

- Erin Bubb, Past President, Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO); Division Chief, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

②Consumer attitudes toward upcycled food (15 minutes)

- Dr. Jonathan Deutsch, Professor and Director of Drexel Food Core Lab, Department of Food and Hospitality Management, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

③Food loss and waste in Africa and recovery for reuse – a case report on using market unsellables to rear rabbits in The Gambia (15 minutes)

- Brianna Parsons, lecturer, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

④Bioprocessing to upcycle agro-industrial by-products and food waste into high-nutritional value animal feed (15 mintues)

- Dr. Xiao Sun, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

DAY THREE: What are the solutions? (Live Session)

2024.03.28 20:00-23:30(Asia/Shanghai)

①Key factors for developing a successful food waste to animal feed recycling business (15 minutes)

- Jennifer Luchte, Sustainability Director, International Ingredient Corporation, Fenton, Missouri

②What is the role of the feed industry in upcycling food waste? (30 minutes)

- Lara Moody, Executive Director, Institute for Feed Education and Research, American Feed Industry Association, Arlington, Virginia

③What is the role of NGOs in facilitating food waste upcycling to animal feed (15 minutes)

- Pete Pearson, Senior Director, Food Waste, Freshwater and Food Team, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC

④Food Recycle International – How we are contributing to upcycling food waste to animal feed (15 minutes)

- Norm Boyle, Founder and CEO, Food Recycle International, NSW, Australia

⑤Upcycling Certified™ food ingredients and products: Animal feed pathway as new opportunities (15 minutes)

- Kathryn Britton, Director of Innovation, Where Food Comes From, Inc., Castle Rock, Colorado

⑥Using food waste to produce insect meal for animal feeding (15 minutes)

- Dr. Victor Mlambo, Professor, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, South Africa

Case studies

①Highlights of aquaculture feeding studies of diets with food waste from the Food Recycle International process (15 minutes)

- Dr. Ha H. Truong, Research Scientist, Aquaculture Nutrition, CSIRO Bribie Island Research Centre, Queensland, Australia

②Highlights of poultry feeding studies of diets with food waste from the Food Recycle International process (15 minutes)

- Dr. Amy Moss, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia

③Use of animal proteins and fats in animal foods contribute to the bio-circular economy (15 minutes)

- Dr. Charles Starkey, VP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, North American Renderers Association, Alexandria, Virginia

④Former food products in monogastric nutrition: effects on productivity, health, and meat quality (15 minutes)

- Dr. Luciano Pinotti, Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Milan