Informa Economics IEG will host its annual commodity and feed ingredient outlook symposium Aug. 20-21 in Bloomington, Minn.

At the event, IEG’s industry experts will cover a wide array of topics, including the supply, demand and price outlook for agricultural commodities and government policy.

“The Commodity and Feed Ingredients Outlook Symposium brings together procurement people—buyers, merchandisers—people who are looking for intelligence on what’s going on in the markets, where the markets are going and what are some of the colors around those forecasts that are driving the markets today and tomorrow,” said Ken Eriksen, senior vice president of IEG’s Client Advisory & Development Group.

The meeting is also a networking opportunity to negotiate contracts, find business opportunities and procure commodities and products, he added.

“Importantly, one goes away with a view that they can take back to their company to provide a strategic aspect of what is better suited for their business as they start thinking of the budget cycle that’s coming and where they are going as a company,” Erickson said.

“Today, we’re in interesting times in the protein and animal by-product sector. There’s going to be a lot of changes—dynamic, interesting price fluctuations—to supply and demand models,” said David Williams, director of global protein for Informa Economics IEG. “That’s what this conference will go over—not only how we’re going to finish up 2018, but how we look going into 2019.”

Attendees will gain first-hand knowledge of each and every animal protein and by-product to aid in decision making, whether they are at the producer, packer or end user level, he added.

The meeting will also feature outlooks on energy, transportation and grains as well as includes policy and economic updates.

“We have the outlook on the soybean complex, which is very interesting with everything going on between the tariffs, and hints that the soybean acreage may dramatically decrease next year,” said Williams.

Following the commodity and feed ingredient symposium, Informa IEG will present a purchasing and market analysis workshop Aug. 21-24. This workshop is designed to provide participants with the necessary skill set to perform solid, fundamental commodity price analysis in support of purchasing and merchandising functions within a company.

For more information and to register, visit  http://www.informaecon.com/CommodityFeedSymposium.asp.

Feed Ingredients Symposium brochure – http://www.informaecon.com/2018_Commodity_and_Feed_Ing_Outlook_Symposium_Brochure-4.pdf

IADI Merchandising school brochure – http://www.informaecon.com/IADI_Merchandising_School_Brochure_August_2018-3.pdf