The world’s largest display of technology, equipment, supplies, and services used in the production and processing of poultry and eggs is taking place this month in Atlanta, GA. The 57th annual International Poultry Exposition (IPE) will be held January 26 to 28 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Every aspect of the poultry industry is represented at IPE including feed milling, hatchery, live production, processing, further processing, marketing, and all support activities. The exhibit hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 26 and 27, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 28.

The show is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). Last year’s exhibition attracted 863 exhibitors and 18,000 attendees from around the world. All of the top 30 broiler companies in the United States were represented, and four of those companies sent more than 100 people. On the turkey side, 20 of the top 24 companies were represented. A total of 43 companies with more than one million birds in lay sent people to the 2004 IPE, and all of the companies with 10 million layers or more were represented.

“Employees benefit because they are exposed to the latest technology and attend cutting-edge educational programs, says Don Dalton, USPOULTRY president. “Companies benefit when their employees meet people from around the world. These are people who can help then uncover new ideas and potential solutions to issues that affect their bottom line.”

To encourage a strong turnout, USPOULTRY is running an attendance competition. The association will present plaques to the company with the largest number of IPE attendees and the company with the largest percentage increase from the previous show. The companies will be awarded during USPOULTRY’s annual Awards Ceremony on January 26.

The theme of this year’s IPE is “Changes and Challenges,” which reflects the technological changes over the years that have exposed the industry to new challenges. Those changes will be on display on the show floor, courtesy of the more than 800 exhibitors. There are also two new features to help promote new products. First, a new products showcase has been added to the IPE Web site, www.internationalpoultryexposition.org. Also during the exposition, an InfoMart Theater, located in Building B, will permit exhibitors to preview their products in 30-minute sessions via PowerPoint or other means.

USPOULTRY and The NATIONAL PROVISIONER are kicking off the exposition by co-hosting a welcome reception on January 26 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Building C lobby of the GWCC. Attendees and exhibitors are welcomed to attend. The reception will include free beverages and hors d’oeuvres and will feature a special presentation, as The NATIONAL PROVISIONER presents its 2004 Poultry Processor of the Year.

“This will be our third year partnering with The NATIONAL PROVISIONER on this fun event,” Dalton says. “Attendees can interact with other poultry industry leaders from around the world, get a break from the traffic congestion, and help salute the magazine’s honoree.”

The educational program, one of the most informative programs of the exposition, will take place on January 27 in room C203 of the GWCC. It will begin at 9:30 a.m., adjourn at 4:00 p.m. and will feature a number of speakers presenting on various topics. Admission for the program is free for anyone who is registered for the IPE.

Topics for the program are as follows:

9:30 a.m.: Animal Welfare — Refining the Corporate Culture, by Kellye Pfalzgraf of Tyson Foods; Audits… Lessons Learned, by Bruce Webster of the University of Georgia.

10:45 a.m.: Food and Facility Security, by Fred Masci of Gold Kist.

11:15 a.m.: The Importance and Value of America’s Poultry Farms, by Mike Donohue of Agristats.

12:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00 p.m.: Environmental Regulatory Compliance — Will Poultry House Air Emissions Be Regulated, by John Chlada of Perdue Farms; Impact of Recent Water Quality Rules on Poultry Operations, by Katie Kirkpatrick of Gold Kist.

2:00 p.m.: Food Safety… Progress and Challenges, by Beth Krushinskie of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.

2:30 p.m.: Avian Influenza — Surveillance and Control of Low Path AI in Commercial Operations, by Andy Rohrer of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Live Poultry Market Control Plans, by John Smith of Fieldale Farms and chairman, U.S. Animal Health Association Committee on Transmissible Diseases of Poultry; Asian Outbreaks and Human Health Concerns, by David Swayne, USDA.

While the majority of attendees at the 2004 IPE were from the United States, almost 3,500 international attendees from 89 countries also attended the show. To further reach out to the international visitors, USPOULTRY is providing the International Guests Center, located in Building B in the GWCC.

Guests will be provided with a wide variety of amenities as well as an area to network, socialize or relax with other international guests. There will be two multi-lingual translators stationed in the center to assist guests. Guests will also be able to post messages to other attendees, find information on leisure activities and dining options in the Atlanta area, and read various periodicals about Atlanta.

For the fourth year in a row, the Latin American Poultry Hall of Fame will also be housed in the center. The Hall of Fame was started in 1987 to identify and recognize those individuals who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of the Latin American poultry industry.

Attending the show is an excellent way for companies to support the poultry industry. “Funds raised at the International Poultry Exposition are funneled back into the industry in the form of research, education, communications, and product promotion,” he adds. “Over the past thirteen years, we have invested more than $8.5 million in industry product promotion alone.”