AAFCO to present graduate student research posters

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is hosting its first Graduate Student Poster Presentation Contest in conjunction with its 2026 Annual Meeting; August 26-28 in San Diego, California. The poster presentation session aims to highlight emerging research while supporting future leaders in animal food safety, nutrition, and regulation, according to AAFCO.¹

“This contest is designed to highlight innovative research that supports animal food, nutrition, and animal food safety and will provide graduate students with a unique opportunity to share their work with regulatory professionals, industry leaders, and peers,” the AAFCO stated on its website.²

Graduate students across the US are invited to submit their original research abstracts, posters, or short essays for consideration. Eligible projects must focus on research in animal food, nutrition, or safety, offering actionable insights for regulatory authorities or the food industry, according to AAFCO. Each student may submit one poster presentation. Entries will be reviewed by AAFCO members and Kansas State University Olathe faculty, who will judge based on research relevance, quality, and practical value for regulators and industry leaders, the association noted in a news release. The deadline to submit entries is May 29, 2026.^1,2

“AAFCO is committed to strengthening the future of animal food safety by investing in the next generation of researchers and regulatory leaders,” Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO, said in a news release.¹ “The addition of the poster presentation at the annual meeting creates a space for graduate students to share new perspectives on science-based solutions that can directly support regulators and the industry in protecting both animal and human health.”

The top 10 selected students will be invited to present their posters at the 2026 AAFCO Annual Meeting, with complimentary registration and travel assistance valued up to $1000. Winners will also be recognized with accepted abstracts published in the meeting program, on the AAFCO website (aafco.org) with published poster PDFs, and in related communications from the association.^1,2,4

Additionally, the top 3 winners will have the opportunity to present their research live at the conference during a 30-minute oral session, for which each of these students will be allotted 10 minutes.^1,2,4 The top 3 winners will also receive stipends for their oral presentations as follows⁴:

• $1000 to the first place winner
• $750 to the second place winner
• $500 to the third place winner

Additionally, sponsorship opportunities are available for industry partners. A nonprofit organization, AAFCO is offering to student poster session sponsors exposure to attract talent and recognition of their peers for their commitment to and leadership in the animal food industries, according to the association. Interested parties are encouraged to email [email protected] for additional information and next steps.¹

The AAFCO is a collaborative association that works to support industry professionals and promote a safe feed supply for animals and humans. The association focuses on unified system-based regulation, guiding state, federal and international feed regulators with ingredient definitions, label standards and standard laboratory operations.³

Download the full contest rules and guidelines and visit the AAFCO’s website for more information about this contest and the 2026 annual conference.

References

1. AAFCO to Host Graduate Student Poster Presentation Contest at 2026 Annual Meeting. News release. Association of American Feed Control Officials. April 6, 2026. Accessed April 10, 2026. https://www.aafco.org/news/aafco-to-host-graduate-student-poster-presentation-contest-at-2026-annual-meeting/
2. Graduate student poster presentation session. Association of American Feed Control Officials. Accessed April 10, 2026. https://www.aafco.org/events/meetings/annual/2026-annual-meeting/
3. What is AAFCO? Association of American Feed Control Officials. Accessed April 10, 2026. https://www.aafco.org/about/
4. 2026 AAFCO Annual Meeting Graduate Student Poster Presentation Contest Call for Abstracts. Association of American Feed Control Officials. Accessed April 10, 2026. https://www.aafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MM_Posters_2026_AAFCO_Annual_Meeting_FINAL.pdf