Learn more about the free educational seminars taking place during World Pork Expo.
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 13th — World Pork Expo 2026, presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), returns to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on June 3 and 4 with a strong lineup of seminars, discussions, and industry learning opportunities. Alongside the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, this year’s educational programming gives you the chance to hear timely perspectives, dig into the issues shaping the industry, and bring back ideas you can put to work in your operation and business.
“World Pork Expo gives producers a place to step back, look at the bigger picture, and learn from the people helping shape this industry every day,” said NPPC President Duane Stateler. “The seminar schedule adds another layer of value to the event by creating space for thoughtful conversations around the challenges and opportunities producers are navigating right now.”
Educational Sessions Announced for 2026
This year’s seminar schedule brings you a wide-ranging mix of conversations focused on the issues, pressures, and opportunities shaping pork production today. From animal health and market conditions to communications, consumer outreach, and long-term industry strategy, these sessions are built to deliver practical insight you can use.
Business Seminars will be held on Wednesday in the Varied Industries Building and are included with Expo admission.
Business Seminar Schedule of Events:
Wednesday, June 3
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
VIB Meeting Room B
Pork: Looking beyond pork chops. See what innovation can do to excite consumers.
This session explores how pork can better meet the expectations of today’s consumers, from versatility and nutrition to value and new eating occasions. Through a live fabrication focused on innovative pork cuts, you’ll get a closer look at how product development and consumer marketing can work together to build stronger interest and demand for U.S. pork. Sponsored by Alltech.
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
VIB Meeting Room D
Roadmap to Resilience – Developing a Genetic Solution
Hear how a multi-year research and development effort led to a new genetic approach aimed at improving disease resilience in swine production. This session will walk you through the thinking, strategy, and key learnings behind a solution designed to support more reliable production and long-term herd performance. Sponsored by Topigs Norsvin.
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
VIB Meeting Room D
Roadmap to Resilience – Developing a Genetic Solution
This repeat session gives you another opportunity to hear how genetics research is being applied to strengthen disease resilience in commercial swine systems. You’ll come away with a clearer sense of how this work could influence productivity, consistency, and herd health going forward. Sponsored by Topigs Norsvin.
Thursday, June 4
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
VIB Meeting Room D
Designing Predictable Performance in an Unpredictable Environment
This live podcast-style discussion looks at how pork systems can be built for more consistent performance, even as markets, disease pressure, and ingredient quality shift. The conversation will focus on hidden stressors, feed strategy, early indicators of performance decline, and practical ways to design more stability into the system. Sponsored by Antiox.
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
VIB Meeting Room D
Beyond the Pit: Turning Manure Management into a Profit Center
This panel takes a fresh look at manure management by focusing on technologies and strategies that can reduce storage needs, recover high-value nutrients, and improve application efficiency. You’ll hear both research and real-world producer perspectives on how manure programs can move beyond waste handling and contribute more directly to return on investment. Sponsored by NutriDrip and Saveco.
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
VIB Meeting Room D
The biology of manure: Beyond NPK.
Manure holds more value than standard nutrient measurements alone can show. This session explores the biological side of manure, including humic substances, fulvic compounds, and hormone profiles that can influence its broader agronomic potential. You’ll come away with a deeper look at how manure can be evaluated as a more complex operational asset.
2026 Pork Academy Line Up
Join your Pork Checkoff for Pork Academy at World Pork Expo, June 3–4, 2026, in Des Moines for expert-led sessions focused on what matters most to pork producers. Explore topics impacting profitability, including a global protein update, swine health, U.S. ag economics, consumer demand and pork nutrition—while engaging directly with industry experts.
Wednesday, June 3
- 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
VIB, Upper Meeting Room
Global to Local: Trade, Tariffs and Economics Impacting U.S. Pork
Get a global-to-local look at the forces shaping pork markets and an update on checkoff investments in overseas markets.
- 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
VIB, Meeting Room C
National Swine Health Strategy: Turning Research into Action
Learn more about the National Swine Health Strategy and discover how pork checkoff research can deliver slat-level solutions for your farm.
- 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
VIB, Meeting Room C
U.S. Pork Economic Outlook
From feed costs to consumer demand, the economic forces shaping today’s pork industry are complex and ever-changing. This session explores markets and trends influencing pork production costs and profitability.
Thursday, June 4
- 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
VIB, Meeting Room B
The Long-term Playbook for Growing Pork Demand
The pork consumer is evolving — and the pork industry needs to evolve to keep up. This session unpacks why demand is a long game through the Taste What Pork Can Do® campaign and beyond.
- 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Meeting Room C
Protein, Quality & Opportunity: What Today’s Consumers Want from Pork
Protein demand continues to rise and pork is well-positioned to benefit. This session explores how consumer behavior, innovation and pork quality are shaping the category.
- 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Meeting Room C
What the Dietary Guidelines Mean for the Future of Pork
Nutrition science, consumer behavior and policy are intersecting in ways that shape the future of pork consumption. This panel explores the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and what they mean for the pork industry.
Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet Returns For 2025
If you’re ages 18 to 22 and passionate about the future of the pork industry, the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet gives you the chance to engage directly with real industry questions in a competitive, discussion-based setting. Sponsored by Novus and Nutra Blend, the program is designed to help you strengthen your communication, critical thinking, and policy development skills through an experience modeled after NPPC’s producer-led process.
The competition includes orientation, round robin discussions, and a final presentation round. Top participants will receive scholarships, and the first-place winner will earn a trip to the NPPC Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Additional details are available on the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet webpage.
Make Plans to Attend – Register Today
Online registration for World Pork Expo 2026 is now open.
- Register by May 13 to have your badges and parking permits mailed (U.S. and Canada only)
- Online registration closes May 28
Late registrants and international attendees can pick up credentials on-site beginning June 3. For registration details, hotel information, and the latest event updates, visit www.worldpork.org.
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From first introductions to long-standing relationships, WPX creates space for meaningful industry connection.
Across the fairgrounds, exhibitors showcase the equipment, technology, and solutions driving the industry forward.
Business Seminars and Pork Academy sessions bring industry voices together for practical conversations you can take back to your operation.