Agenda

Hear from the event chair and get yourself ready for informative insights. Be sure to download the event app to maximize your conference experience. 

Reset and refresh your perspective of leadership and business with a motivational and high energy story of resilience.

Think beyond markets and business performance, and instead focus on mindset, adaptability, teamwork and decision-making when outcomes are uncertain.

As we mark the 50^th Anniversary of The Executive Conference, this session cuts through five decades of change in animal protein markets to turn historical perspective of the forces shaping today’s environment into key strategies.

This session shows how past cycles of disruption, trade shocks, demand shifts and pricing volatility reveal the patterns executives can use to anticipate what comes next, and position for the next 50 years.

As we mark the 50^th anniversary of The Executive Conference we honor the future and the Rising Stars.

Recognize their innovation, leadership, and contributions to the sector, shining a spotlight on the talent shaping the next generation of protein industry excellence.

• Lessons from last year: interpret herd dynamics, production challenges, and pricing trends to try to anticipate market tension
• Demand breakdown: where is demand coming from across retail, food service, and exports

The second part of this session is dedicated to forecasting*. By combining rigorous data analysis with human intelligence, we explore potential future market dynamics in animal protein

• Last year in focus: bringing the data and reviewing pricing trends so you can try to anticipate inflection points and adapt your strategies
• Demand evolution: where is demand coming from across retail, food service, and exports including value and premium

The second part of this session is dedicated to forecasting*. By combining rigorous data analysis with human intelligence, we explore potential future market dynamics in animal protein

• Year-in-review: bringing the data and reviewing pricing trends so you can anticipate inflection points and adjust your production strategy
• Supply and demand breakdown: where is demand coming from across retail and food service, including cage free and production insights

• Through trade maps, policy analysis, and market insights, we can understand how exports, imports, tariffs, and international regulations affect US operations and US competitiveness.
• Connect policy to pricing, see how tariffs, trade agreements, and regulations influence protein costs and supply
• Make informed decisions on international sourcing, investment, and expansion

Join us for an informal networking hour with leading analysts covering key protein and input markets. This session offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with experts to dive deeper into market trends.

Kick off the 50^th Executive Conference and celebrate your industry’s legacy with a relaxed evening to reconnect with old colleagues and welcome new faces to the premier gathering of the protein industry.

Guiding you through a big-picture view of technological innovation, regulatory evolution, and consumer-driven change that will reshape supply chains, production models, and market strategies. This session challenges executives to anticipate emerging trends, identify new opportunities, and future proof their business in a rapidly evolving protein landscape.

• Gain a high-level view of inflation, interest rates, commodity prices, trade dynamics, and consumer spending.
• Translate these trends into strategic business insights.
• Avoid overreacting to market noise while making strategic business decisions.. 

Meet the Expana analysts and explore the new SaaS platform in the networking area.

• Clear situational awareness: up‑to‑date assessment of current disease prevalence, transmission trends and geographic hotspots that could affect supply.
• Hear from a veterinary scientist amongst industry experts for guidance on disease dynamics, risk mitigation, and practical strategies for managing biological disruption across flocks and supply chains.
• How operationally possible is vaccination and how might different strategies impact business outcomes?

• Better understand where your costs may be coming from and detect early warning signs of input cost fluctuations across feed, fuel, packaging, and freight.
• Seek to enhance business stability and longevity.

• Understand how restaurants, retailers, and food service buyers make purchasing decisions that can directly affect demand for protein products.
• Discover what end-market partners value most helping you build stronger, more resilient partnerships.
• Spot emerging trends and product preferences that can guide innovation, marketing, and portfolio strategy.

• Understand how changes in consumer purchasing power, dietary preferences, and demand patterns affect protein pricing, sales volumes, menu offerings, and retail product assortments (SKUs).
• Anticipate changes in category demand.

• Hear candid perspectives and experience-based viewpoints that go beyond data and forecasts
• Absorb strategies on automation, labor retention, and sustainable growth.
• Build a long-term vision that integrates both buyer and producer priorities.