Discussion topics to include pet food trends, consumer engagement and improving pet health through nutrition

Register before March 31 at one.alltech.com for savings of $400

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), held May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky, will provide those in the pet industry, including pet food manufacturers, with a unique opportunity to participate in a global conversation about the innovations, challenges and solutions facing their industry. Focus sessions designed to educate and inspire will allow attendees to gather insights from leading companion animal experts and exchange ideas with peers from around the globe.

ONE18 pet topics: 

• Mega Trends and New Opportunities in Pet Food: Niche or Mainstream? 

The outlook for the pet food market is promising, with key drivers in both developed and emerging markets reshaping the industry. Preventative and proactive health measures are the most important issues to consumers. Are you taking advantage of these trends? Are you ready for the new game changers?

• Rediscovering Protein: Clean and Sustainable Alternatives

The ever-increasing demand for clean, safe and traceable food is not only impacting human consumption, but that of our pets as well. How are new meatless sources of protein turning the tables?

• Feeding the Microbiome: The Omics Have Arrived

Have we finally found ways to improve well-being by understanding how nutrients interact with pets' genes? What additives or ingredients could achieve this? Are new foods on the horizon that will improve health? Learn about developing a pet food that can support heart health, brain function, joint health and overall well-being.

• Grow and Protect Your Brand: Develop Raving Fans

Pet owners want to engage with brands, to connect with the story behind the product, and they look to the internet for that engagement. Pet food brands are facing a generation of "screen-swiping" pet owners. Learn how millennials and Generation Z are changing the industry and how you can build trust and loyalty among these new consumers.

• Improved Health and Immunity Starts in the Bowl 

Like their owners, companion animals are living longer, but are they functioning optimally in their later stages of life? Are we providing the right nutrition? Does the information on packaging provide the answers you need? By having a better understanding of how nutrition and immune defenses interact, pet owners can choose foods that support animal health more sufficiently.

• Brick and Mortar vs. Virtual Storefront: Pick Your Winner

Forty percent of pet owners buy their pet products online, up from 37 percent in 2016. So how do traditional retailers compete with other brands that have a strong online presence? Why are some companies — usually independent retailers — choosing not to market pet food online at all? Learn how the internet is reshaping the retail landscape of the pet industry.

*Topics subject to change as the schedule evolves.

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference is the place to learn from and network with some of the brightest stars in business leadership. This year's power-packed mainstage will welcome Jack Welch, legendary former chairman and CEO of General Electric, who was named as one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” by Forbes magazine in 2017; Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, a professor at North Carolina State University whose research focuses on applications of the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas system and its use in food manufacturing; and professor Robert Wolcott of Northwestern University, a contributing writer to Forbes and the author of “Grow from Within: Mastering Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation.”

The Pearse Lyons Accelerator program returns to the conference this year and continues to be a launchpad for startup innovators. Entrepreneurs from around the world will present their revolutionary ideas in food and ag-tech. How will the next generation of technology influence your business? Find out at ONE18.

Now in its 34^th year, Alltech’s conference is attended annually by nearly 4,000 people from over 70 countries. Whether producers and business leaders are navigating a fundamental change within their industry or just need a little inspiration, they’ll learn about real-world opportunities and solutions at ONE18.

Register to attend ONE18 before March 31 at one.alltech.com for savings of $400. Join the conversation with #ONE18 on Twitter, and follow the  ONE18 Facebook event page for updates.