How AI simulators elevate feed mill operator training

VICTAM's Sebas van den Ende talks workforce shifts, automation, global market pressures and what he hopes exhibitors and attendees are talking about when VICTAM International opens its doors in Utrecht this June.

Brian Gier, CEO of Akralos Animal Nutrition, discusses the priorities guiding the integration of the ADM-Alltech commercial feed joint venture — and why people, customers and plants top the list.

Zinpro discovery researcher Dr. Lucas Rodrigues explains how improving sow health through trace mineral nutrition can reduce staff burnout, lower turnover and strengthen return on investment across swine operations.

Erik Visser, CEO of Hamlet Protein, joins the Feed Strategy Podcast to share his outlook on the forces reshaping the global animal feed industry in 2026. Drawing on a career spanning multiple continents and multinational companies, Visser makes the case that the industry is moving from a model optimized for efficiency to one that must be built for resilience.  Here, he also identifies two things the industry tends to underestimate: the structural — not cyclical — nature of volatility, and the urgency of attracting new talent to the sector.

Giles Houdart, Global Head of Micronutrition & Health Solutions at Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, discusses AI-driven R&D, the synergies of recent acquisitions, shifting customer demand and a changing regulatory landscape.

Ranjit Maharahjan, ANDRITZ head of product group - automation solutions, explores the use of digital twin technology to enhance feed mill safety, maintenance and operation.

David Pelsoci, managing partner with Captios Partners, talks about the digital product cycle and what feed mills can do to improve their operations.

Pierre-Joseph Paoli of ADM Animal Nutrition reveals how shifting trade flows, persistent heat stress and emerging respiratory diseases are creating new challenges — and opportunities — for feed producers. Plus, provides details about ADM's joint venture with Alltech.

As the first year of the Trump administration's second term passes its midpoint, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has navigated a complex landscape of trade negotiations, regulatory changes, and supply chain vulnerabilities while pushing for critical legislative reforms.AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman joins the podcast to share how U.S. feed industry stakeholders have upped their engagement with key policymakers. Progress aside, she warns that ongoing staffing cuts at key federal agencies and the administration's tariff strategies present opportunities and risks for feed producers seeking to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers — particularly China's dominance in the vitamin market — while maintaining competitive export positions.

WATT PoultryUSA editor Elizabeth Doughman joins the podcast to share consumer insight and highlights from the 2025 Chicken Marketing Summit.