Introduction
On October 15-17, the “2024 Third Pet Industry Conference” hosted by the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association was held grandly in Hangzhou. The Association’s Sixth Council was successfully held concurrently. Important guests and experts from government departments, industry leading enterprises, and academic institutions gathered at the scene, and more than 400 pet industry practitioners gathered together to discuss the future development path of the pet industry.
Tianyuan Pet, as a special co-sponsor of the conference, actively participated in the event and shared ideas on the new era of pet economy. It contributed wisdom and made contributions to the innovative development of the industry, working together to push China’s pet industry towards higher quality and more sustainable development!
Additionally, Mr. Xue Yuanchao, Chairman of Tianyuan Pet, attended the conference as a distinguished guest at the roundtable forum titled “Leading Development with Innovation, Finding Growth Paths through Insights, and Creating Value through Management.” He engaged in deep discussions and exchanges of ideas with other guests present. He emphasized that in the context of the booming pet industry in China, “companies must align with market innovation points, capture customer and market demands, and develop across various categories, innovating on multiple dimensions. Beyond product innovation, the innovation of market strength and channel strength is even more crucial for achieving sustainable, high-quality development in the industry.”
Significant Discussions and Themes
On October 15th, the “Sixth Council Meeting of the First Session of the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association” was held, during which a detailed report was presented on the association’s work for 2024 and the work plan for 2025. Proposals for the addition of council members were also discussed, with Mr. Xue Yuanchao, Chairman of Tianyuan Pet, being appointed as the Vice President of the association.
From October 16 to 17, the main conference unfolded under the theme “Innovation, Collaboration, Regulation, Human-Pet Harmony, and High-Quality Development.” The agenda included five segments:
Trend Insights
Corporate Social Responsibility
Innovation-Driven Development
Focus on Pet Food Health
Pet Medicine Development
Chapter One: Trend Insights
On the morning of the first day of the conference, the agenda was hosted by Ms. Wang Xiuyan, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the China Animal Husbandry Association. She warmly welcomed the attending guests on behalf of the organizers and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the preparation and organizing teams. Secretary-General Wang pointed out that the pet industry has entered a phase of high-quality development, emphasizing the need for all parties in the industry to unite their wisdom and strength to promote sustainable development in the pet sector.
Following this, several industry leaders delivered inspiring speeches during the opening ceremony. Mr. Yu Yimin, Deputy Inspector of the Zhejiang Provincial Livestock and Agricultural Machinery Development Center, vividly interpreted the theme of the conference: “Innovative Collaboration, Normative Leadership, Human-Pet Harmony, and High-Quality Development.” He elaborated on the important role of the pet industry in the economic development of Zhejiang Province from the perspective of regional industrial development. Mr. Li Xirong, President of the Fourth Council of the China Animal Husbandry Association and Director of the Strategic Guidance Committee, also emphasized the importance of innovation and regulation for the development of the pet industry.
the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, presented a report on “Analysis of Trends in China’s Macroeconomic Development.” Director Cai provided an in-depth analysis of the current macroeconomic situation, particularly how the pet industry can seize opportunities and meet challenges against the backdrop of global economic fluctuations. She noted that in an era where consumption upgrades and emotional spending are dominant, the pet industry possesses tremendous growth potential, with innovation as the key driver for high-quality industry development. She also highlighted the profound impact of the trend towards pets being regarded as “family,” viewing it as a core driving force for industry upgrades and brand building.
As a co-organizer of the conference, Mr. Chen Zhenbiao, Chairman of Petpal Pet Nutrition Technology Co.,Ltd., delivered a special presentation titled “The Role and Social Value of Pets and the Pet Industry in Modern Society.” He argued that the role of pets has shifted from being guard animals to becoming good companions for humans. For individuals, pets provide emotional support and companionship in the context of a single economy, serve as spiritual healing and recovery in the silver economy, and nourish and comfort youths. Thus, the pet industry is fundamentally a happiness industry.
Ms. Liu Xiaoxia, Deputy Secretary-General of the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association, provided a detailed interpretation of the “2024 China Pet Industry Development Report.” This report, based on data research across the entire industry chain, comprehensively analyzed the current state and future trends of the pet industry in China. The report indicated that as pet care needs diversify and become more personalized, areas such as pet food, medical services, and smart pet products will continue to be hotspots for market growth. She also specifically mentioned that the healthy development of the pet industry requires a more perfect legal framework and industry norms in order to truly achieve the goal of “human-pet harmony.”
Chapter Two: Corporate Social Responsibility
In the second chapter of the conference, titled “Corporate Social Responsibility: Focusing on Pet Welfare to Elevate the Industry to a New Level of Human-Pet Harmony,” Dr. Liu Lang, President of the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association, served as the host, guiding discussions on the promotion of companion animal legislation.
During the session, Zhao Wanping, a representative of the 14th National People’s Congress and Vice President of the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, delivered a report titled “Building a Harmonious Society between Humans and Pets: Promoting Companion Animal Legislation.” He emphasized that the legislation and regulation of pet ownership are essential components of social harmony and development. He stated that pet enterprises bear an unshirkable responsibility in promoting social responsibility and industry norms. Vice President Zhao’s report not only brought new ideas to the industry but also provided strong support for the development of a harmonious society between humans and pets.
In the following in-depth dialogue session, Dr. Liu Lang hosted a lively discussion with guest speakers, focusing on companion animal legislation, pet welfare, and social responsibility. They explored how enterprises can fulfill their social responsibilities while promoting high-quality development in the industry, ensuring harmonious coexistence between humans and pets.
Chapter Three: Innovation-Driven Development
The afternoon session of the first day of the conference focused on the theme of “Innovation-Driven Development,” hosted by Li Li, Vice President of New Ruipeng Pet Group. She highlighted that technological innovation is the core driving force for the pet industry to achieve leapfrog growth. New research, dynamics, and advancements in fields such as biology, medicine, nutrition, immunology, animal science, and veterinary medicine from both domestic and international frontiers are providing fresh insights for industrial innovation, facilitating development, innovation, and sustainability. Innovation is reshaping the industry value chain to drive enterprise growth and support leapfrog development in the sector.
Next, Qin Hua, Chairman of Gambol Pet Group Co., Ltd., and Huang Li, General Manager of Shanghai Full Pet Pet Product Co., Ltd., presented reports titled “How Leading Brands Build ‘Sustainable Innovation’ Capabilities” and “Thoughts and Explorations on the Transformation and Upgrade of Manufacturing Enterprises for High-Quality Development,” respectively.
In the following roundtable forum, Mr. Lai Xiaoyun, Executive Director of the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association and Secretary-General of the East-West Small Animal Clinical Veterinarians Conference, moderated a dialogue on the topic “Leading Development with Innovation, Finding Growth Paths through Insight, and Creating Value through Management.” Mr. Xue Yuanchao, Chairman of Petstar, delivered remarks on innovation and development. There was a consensus that, in the face of homogenized competition in the industry, enterprises must seek differentiated paths through innovation to enhance brand competitiveness. Additionally, companies should continuously optimize organizational management and operational efficiency to achieve sustainable, high-quality development through refined management innovation.
Mr. Song Biwu, Senior Planning Director of Damon Technology Group Co.,ltd., mentioned in his report titled “The Power of Intelligent Futures: Innovation Driving Healthy Leapfrog Development in the Industry” that technological innovation is transforming production factors in segmented industries, promoting industrial upgrading and creating numerous new technological products, applications, and development models. He expressed anticipation for future insights into new growth paths through the interconnectedness of technological innovations to support leapfrog growth in the industry.
Mr. Xiao Wei, Head of Imported Products & Channel Circles at Taobao and Tmall Pet, presented a report on “Consumer Trend Predictions and Product Innovations on the Taotian Platform.” He noted that internet platforms, as the forefront of industrial innovation applications, directly reflect the latest consumer demands for products and services. Innovation drives development, and innovation wins the market. The cutting-edge insights and product innovation practices regarding consumer trends from the Taotian platform have also sparked limitless thoughts and inspirations for the industry.
In the subsequent roundtable discussion, Mr. Hao Bo, Vice President of New Ruipeng Pet Group, engaged with invited guests on the topic of “Innovative Breakthroughs in New Brands and Channels,” initiating an in-depth dialogue about brand innovation and channel development strategies. Guests shared differing views from their professional perspectives, discussing differentiation strategies for new brands and incremental channels for brand development while also sharing exemplary cases of building brand moats and breaking through via high-tech channels.
Chapter Four: Focus on Pet Food Health
The agenda for the second morning of the conference centered on pet food, exploring how to create higher-quality and healthier products for pets in the context of a “new quality productivity” era. Zhou Chunhua, Secretary-General of the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association, served as the host. She began by reviewing the highlights from the first day of the conference and stated that today’s discussions would delve deeper into key industry topics, focusing on the health and innovation of pet food.
The first presentation of the morning was given by Director Du Wei from the National Animal Feed Station, who presented a report on “Interpretation of China’s Pet Food Regulations and Policies.” Director Du pointed out that as the pet food industry rapidly develops, food safety issues are garnering increasing attention from society. Regulations and policies play a crucial role in ensuring food safety and regulating market order. He emphasized that with further segmentation of the industry and rising consumer demands for quality pet food, the enforcement of regulations and industry standards will have a profound impact on the sustainable development of pet food.
Following this, Mr. Ouyang Xihui, Secretary-General of the National Companion Animal (Pet) Standardization Technical Committee and Director of the Beijing Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, delivered a report titled “Standardization in the Pet Industry: Supporting Industry Development.” He elaborated on the importance of standardization in the pet food sector, stating that it is an effective means to enhance product quality and protect consumer rights, as well as a foundation for promoting innovation and improving industry competitiveness.
Under the assurance of regulations and standards, how the pet food industry can carve a path of high-quality development that meets market demands became one of the core topics of the forum. Professor Wu Yi from China Agricultural University shared a report on the “Current Status and Trends of Pet Food Development.” She analyzed the latest research findings and trends in pet food from a nutritional perspective, suggesting that future pet food will move towards greater health and functionality. Professor Wu specifically noted that the trend of treating pets as family members is driving quality upgrades in pet food, and companies need to focus on pets’ nutritional needs and health to enhance brand competitiveness.
Next, Mr. Nie Shijian, Chief Scientist at Yantai China Pet Foods Co.,Ltd, presented a report titled “Analysis of Pet Digestive Issues Guided by Data.” He used detailed data to explain common digestive issues in pet food and their causes, sharing insights on how to optimize pet food formulation design from a research and development perspective. He highlighted that future pet food development will focus more on personalization and precision nutrition to meet the diverse needs of pets.
After the specialized lectures, a new round of roundtable discussions commenced, moderated by Mr. You Zhongming, Director of the Petpal Pet Health and Nutrition Research Institute. The theme of the dialogue was “How Companies Can Sustainably Drive Differentiation through R&D,” where guests engaged in an in-depth discussion about “Moving Beyond Slogan Innovation: How to Implement Pet Food R&D.” They shared their practical experiences in product development, particularly on how to enhance the health benefits and market competitiveness of pet food through scientific R&D strategies and innovative technologies.
The afternoon session was hosted by Tan Xue from Xinyuan Company, focusing on pet food safety and risk control. Professor Chen Yiqiang from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs presented a report on “Detection and Regulatory Analysis of Potential Hazard Factors in Pet Food,” thoroughly analyzing potential hazards in pet food and corresponding regulatory measures. He emphasized that food safety is the bottom line for the pet food industry, and companies must strictly adhere to regulations and strengthen quality control of raw materials to ensure product safety.
Researcher Li Jun from the Feed Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences further explored “Guarding the Pet Table: Risk Control of Raw Materials and Product Quality in Pet Food.” He discussed how to ensure the safety and quality control of pet food ingredients through scientific management and technological means.
Following this, Researcher Zhang Tietao, Chief Scientist of the Innovation Team for Specialized Animal Nutrition and Feeding at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, presented findings on “Energy Requirements and Protein Feed Material Evaluation for Beagles.” He shared the latest research progress on the energy needs and protein feed evaluations for Beagles, providing insights into the analysis of various protein feed materials for pet nutritional metabolism, which could guide future pet health management research and pet food development.
Finally, Mr. Xiao Liang, Director of the Standardization Working Committee of the China Society for Technical Economics, shared a report titled “Quality Grading Standards to Ensure Pet Food Quality.” He emphasized the importance of quality grading standards in guaranteeing pet food quality. Mr. Xiao’s presentation set a new benchmark for the industry and laid a solid foundation for future development.
The afternoon’s roundtable forum was themed “Pet Food Safety and Public Opinion Dilemmas: How Pet Food Brands Can Harmoniously Coexist with Public Opinion in the Digital Wave.” The discussion focused on building brand trust and addressing public opinion crises in the Internet age. Guests shared their successful brand-building experiences and analyzed the impacts of crisis management and public opinion environments on brand development.
At the conclusion of the conference, a joint initiative ceremony was held to promote integrity and compliance in the pet food industry, with participants committing to contribute to the standardized development of the sector.
Chapter Five: Development of Pet Pharmaceuticals
On the second day of the conference (17th), a closed-door meeting on pet pharmaceuticals was held by the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Husbandry Association.
Under the theme of “Building a Communication Bridge Between Government and Enterprises to Explore Healthy Development Paths for Pet Pharmaceuticals,” both government and industry representatives engaged in extensive discussions on the production demands for pet medications, innovations in traditional Chinese medicine formulations for pets, pathways for domestic pet pharmaceutical companies, and feasible analyses of the conversion between human and pet medications.
The healthy development of domestic pet pharmaceutical companies requires collaborative efforts from multiple parties. The association will leverage its role as a bridge to explore new ideas and promote the healthy development of pet pharmaceutical enterprises.
Supporting Industry Development, Tianyuan in Action
After two days of discussions and exchanges, the third Pet Industry Conference has successfully concluded all its agendas. Various parties in the industry have sparked ideas in multiple fields, including regulatory standards, innovative research and development, and food safety. In the future, the pet industry will take more determined steps towards high-quality and sustainable development.
As one of the early entrants into the pet industry in China, Tianyuan Pet continues to focus on its platform and channel building capabilities, firmly seizing the rapid growth opportunities in the pet industry. By expanding production scale, upgrading product structure, optimizing profit sources, and enhancing product profitability, Tianyuan is continuously strengthening its market competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Tianyuan Pet will maintain its focus on the living habits of main pets such as dogs and cats, along with their interaction needs with humans. The company will continue to develop a wide range of pet products while emphasizing creative planning and innovative design in new functionalities, themes, materials, and categories, contributing to the innovative development of China’s pet industry!
