The trade show has more than 486,000 net square feet of exhibit space with more than 1,200 exhibitors compared to the January 2014 trade show, which had 410,000 net square feet of exhibit space and 1,152 exhibitors.

Dr Charlie Olentine, IPPE show manager, said: “We are pleased that more than 94 per cent of the show floor has already been booked, including our expansion into Building C.

“This will be our largest trade show. We anticipate more than 28,000 attendees gathered in Atlanta to learn about the latest products and services offered for the feed, meat and poultry industries.”

The Expo is ranked as one of the leading trade shows in the US with Trade Show Executive ranking the 2013 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) as number 35 in its listing of TSE Gold 100 Shows.

IPPE will be held from Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 January at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Expo will highlight the latest technology, equipment and services used in the production and processing of feed, meat and poultry products.

It will also feature education programmes addressing current industry issues, combining the expertise from American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), American Meat Institute (AMI) and US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).

With a record attendance expected, downtown and Midtown properties in the IPPE hotel block sold out in the autumn of 2014 and more hotels had to be added in the Midtown, Buckhead and airport areas to complement the traditional block.

The extra accommodation added 1,000 rooms at these additional hotels with bus or MARTA transportation available to the IPPE.

During the show the documentary, 'Farmland', will be screened free of charge for all visitors.

'Farmland' takes an intimate look at the lives of farmers and ranchers in their 20s, all of whom are now responsible for running their farming business.

Through this film from award-winning director James Moll, visitors to the expo will be able to step inside the world of farming for a first-hand glimpse into the lives of young farmers and ranchers.

Mr Moll travelled across the country meeting young farmers and ranchers.

Viewers will learn about their high-risk/high-reward jobs and passion for a way of life that has been passed down from generation to generation and continues to evolve.

The documentary was made with the support of the US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, of which US Poultry & Egg Association is a charter member.

The film will be shown from 9:00 to 10:00am and from 12:30 to 1:30pm on Tuesday 27 January in the C-102 Auditorium of the Georgia World Congress Center. The documentary will also be shown from 8:30 to 9:30am and from 12:30 to 1:30pm on Wednesday 28 January.

During the entire week of IPPE, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau has worked with area Atlanta restaurants to provide the best appetisers and entrees that include beef, pork and poultry.

Visitors to IPPE are encouraged to visit the restaurants and indulge in all they have to offer in beef, pork and poultry.

The 3rd Annual Chili Cook-off contest is planned for Tuesday 27 January. A group of highly competitive Atlanta chefs will prepare their favourite chili recipes featuring beef, pork and poultry.

Visitors can sample and vote on their favourite chili at Booth B8375 and the “Best Chili” award will be presented to the winning chef.

The International Networking Reception at the Georgia Aquarium will be held at 5:30pm on Tuesday 27 January, sponsored by Big Dutchman. Complimentary tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to all IPPE attendees.

The IPPE "Wing Fling" will feature various levels of flavoured hot wings, and visitors can compete to see who can eat the most wings in a set time frame. The IPPE Wing Fling will take place on the Wednesday of the show in the B-Building, Meat Me in @LANTA ring. The winner will receive a $250 Visa gift card.

IPPE is also offering Cooking Demonstrations featuring nationally and locally recognised chefs preparing and cooking chicken, turkey, egg, beef and pork products. The demonstrations will be held in the Cuttin’ Up & Cookin’ pavilion in Booth B8641.

Visitors to the show will also again have a chance to visit the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and explore the “Drive to Feed Chew on This” exhibit. This will be their second appearance at IPPE.

The Wienermobile will be on the show floor in B-Hall of the Georgia World Congress Center throughout the show.

Hotdoggers, the official drivers of the Wienermobile, will be on hand to give away toy whistles shaped as replicas of the vehicle.

Oscar Mayer crafted its first version of the Wienermobile in 1936, and it has been touring the US ever since. The current active fleet includes eight Wienermobiles, six full-sized models and two mini models. Hotdoggers log their journeys in an online blog.

The “Drive to Feed Chew on This” mobile exhibit was created to heighten awareness about one of the biggest problems facing the world - hunger. It is an interactive exhibit with an updated video and information on hunger, sustainability and food facts.

During the show, the American Meat Institute (AMI) is sponsoring a beef plant tour. During this five-hour tour, participants will view food safety procedures and worker safety initiatives in place at a beef processing plant. The programme will conclude with a question-and-answer period featuring plant staff.

The tour, which costs $99 for registered IPPE attendees, is open only to packers and processors ages 18 and over. This session will be held from noon to 5pm on Monday 26 January.

The Expo is also launching the third annual Young Leaders “30 under 30” programme, which targets young professionals, who normally would not have the financial resources or opportunity to attend IPPE.

The goal of the programme is to invest in, and engage, young professionals between the ages of 21 and 29, who work for companies actively involved in the production and processing of poultry and meat, or in the production of animal/poultry feed.

Applicants must be a member of at least one of the IPPE associations: American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), American Meat Institute (AMI), North American Meat Association (NAMA) or US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).

The programme is designed to recognise professional leadership qualities and to provide exposure to the world’s largest annual trade show involving the production and processing of meat and poultry products and the manufacture of feed and pet food products. The programme provides education to further training in each person’s respective industry and will expose the recipients to the latest technology used in the industry.

Selected applicants will receive a full, complimentary registration to IPPE and allow them to attend all complimentary education programmes.

The “30 under 30” programme is also offering complimentary registration to one of the collocated paid education programmes. The selected candidates will also receive two complimentary nights of lodging.

The Expo will once again have a free bus service provided through the Members to Atlanta (M2A) Program. Buses will pick up employees and growers at a location selected by the company, travel to the Expo and return the same afternoon.

Last year, more than 200 people from seven poultry complexes in Georgia and Alabama took advantage of the bus programme. The programme is available to any location within an approximate three-hour drive from Atlanta.

January 2015