About this Event
Pet guardians say they are open to alternatives. The market has not caught up. Why?
That gap between what pet owners say they would consider healthy alternative protein ingredients (over 40%) and what's actually in the food bowl (<1% market share) is the starting point for the 2nd edition of the ProPAWS Conference, on 12 November.
We are bringing together veterinarians, nutritionists, scientists, and industry professionals from across Europe to look at what is known, what isn't yet, and what a healthy, sustainable bowl could look like for pets and for the planet.
Why join?
Most of the industry agrees that something is shifting. Far fewer agree on what to do about it, or whether alternative proteins hold up nutritionally, commercially, and in practice. That is exactly the kind of open, sometimes uncomfortable conversation this day is built for. A working session for the sector, veterinary health professionals, and scientists.
Accreditation: 5 points for veterinarians (Dactari) and 4 points for behaviour therapists (NVGH). See the FAQ for details.
What to expect?
- Hear from veterinarians, scientists, and industry leaders across two stages, grounded in nutrition science, consumer behavior, and real-world practice
- Sessions on feeding advice in practice, nutritional analysis, and what consumer research in the Netherlands shows
- Insights into the latest industry developments and protein technologies
- Panel discussions that don't dodge the hard questions and share both opportunities and obstacles from experiences
- Time to network over warm beverages and delicious food with frontrunners and change-makers
Who is it for?
Veterinary health professionals, scientists, industry professionals, students, and anyone with a stake in what goes in the pet food bowl, whatever your current view on alternative proteins. Participants are expected to be curious, share their own experiences, and be open to learning.
Tickets on sale now*
- Early bird: 150€ (SOLD OUT)
- Regular: 200€
- Student: 50€
Impact Club members visit the ProPAWS Conference for free and have access to the exclusive dinner with speakers and other members afterwards. Not an Impact Club member yet? Reach out to [email protected].
*Ticket prices exclude VAT and service costs.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Arrival, tea & coffee
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:40 AM
Welcome
Host: Janneke de Bijl
🕑: 09:40 AM - 10:30 AM
Keynote - Doing It Right: Health, Care and the Questions You Should Ask
Host: Esther Hagen-Plantinga
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Inspiration for a Better Planet
Host: Eva Meijer
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Break
🕑: 11:20 AM - 11:50 AM
Pet Food’s Protein Shift: Understanding our Pets' Climate Pawprint
Host: Billy Nicholles
🕑: 11:50 AM - 12:20 PM
The Methodologies Behind the Pet Food's Footprint
Host: Elisabeth Keijzer
🕑: 12:20 PM - 01:15 PM
Lunch
🕑: 01:15 PM - 01:45 PM
Beyond Intention: What Shapes Dog Guardians’ Consumer Choices
Host: Fleur Cuijnen
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:15 PM
Plant-Based Dog Foods: Analysis, Absorption and New Evidence
Host: Rebecca Brociek
🕑: 02:15 PM - 02:35 PM
Break
🕑: 02:35 PM - 03:05 PM
From Lab to Living Room: Testing Pet Food Where Pets Actually Live
Host: Evelien Bos
🕑: 03:05 PM - 03:35 PM
Panel - Alternative Proteins in Animal Care Practice
Host: Eline Teygeler
🕑: 03:35 PM - 03:55 PM
Break
🕑: 03:55 PM - 04:15 PM
Let's Shake Up the Bowl: What's Next
Host: ProPAWS
🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:30 PM
Closing & round-up
Host: Janneke de Bijl
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Drinks & networking
Event venue & nearby stays
De Groene Afslag, 1 Cissy van Marxveldtstraat, Bussum, Netherlands
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.