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Brussels, Belgium – The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) is pleased to announce a distinguished international line-up of speakers and delegates for the GAPFA Technical Congress & Annual General Meeting 2026, taking place in Ottawa, Canada, from 21–24 June 2026.
The Congress has reached full capacity several weeks ahead of the event, reflecting strong interest from across the global pet food community. Bringing together leading experts from government, academia, international organizations and industry, this year’s Congress will explore “The Future of Pet Food: Mastering Disruption and Defining Global Success” and examine the global forces reshaping the pet food sector.
Speakers include representatives from the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health for Animals, leading universities, national veterinary authorities, and senior executives from across the global pet food industry.
Hosted by the Pet Food Association of Canada (PFAC), the Congress will provide a unique forum for discussing emerging animal health threats, evolving trade dynamics, international standards, nutrition, innovation, and the future direction of the global pet food sector.
“We are delighted by the tremendous interest in this year’s Congress,” said Loretta Hunter, President of GAPFA. “The programme brings together an exceptional group of international experts to address many of the critical issues facing our industry today – from global trade and animal health to international standards, nutrition, and innovation. Ottawa will provide an outstanding forum for collaboration and forward-looking discussion as we work together to shape the future of pet food.”
“As host of this year’s Congress, PFAC is delighted to welcome delegates from around the world to Ottawa,” said Chris Nash, Executive Director of PFAC. “The exceptional calibre of speakers and participants reflects the importance of international collaboration in addressing the opportunities and challenges facing our sector. We look forward to welcoming delegates to Canada’s capital for an engaging week of discussions that will help shape the future of pet food globally.”
Congress Programme Highlights
The GAPFA Technical Congress will be held at the historic Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel on 23 June 2026 and will feature a distinguished international line-up of experts addressing the key forces shaping the future of pet food through a full day of presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
Sessions will explore geopolitical change, global trade developments, emerging animal health threats, supply chain resilience, international standards, nutrition, and innovation. Featured speakers include Dr. Meredith Lilly of Carleton University, Canada’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Mary Jane Ireland, Dr. Faiza Aklil of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Carel du Marchie Sarvaas of Health for Animals, and trade policy expert Dan Ciuriak.
A high-level international panel bringing together experts from the World Trade Organization (WTO), WOAH, and industry will examine import controls, international standards and opportunities for greater international collaboration in an increasingly complex global trading environment. Panelists include Camille Flechet (WTO), Dr. Francisco D’Alessio (WOAH), and Chinedu Ogbonna, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Champion Petfoods.
The programme will also highlight advances in global pet food nutrition, with contributions from GAPFA Nutrition experts, Prof. Dr. Jia Xu of the China Feed Industry Association, and Dominique Kuhlmann of PFI South Africa.
In addition to the technical programme, delegates will have opportunities throughout the week to engage in GAPFA Board, Workstream and Annual General Meeting activities, strengthening collaboration across the global pet food community.
Key GAPFA Events During the Week
GAPFA thanks all participants, speakers, sponsors and partners for their support and looks forward to welcoming the global pet food community to Ottawa later this month.
About GAPFA
The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) is a non-profit organization established in Belgium in 2014, representing pet food manufacturers globally. GAPFA’s vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of pets globally through access to safe, nutritious and sustainable pet food. The Alliance works to promote adherence to food safety and nutritional standards enabling manufacturers to deliver wholesome, healthy and nutritious prepared pet foods; to promote the feeding of prepared pet food to support the health and wellbeing of pets; and to develop and disseminate educational resources which highlight and enhance the benefits of human pet interaction. For further information, please visit www.gapfa.org or contact the Secretariat at info@gapfa.org.
