The Australian Renderers Association (ARA) will host its 18th International Symposium in Melbourne from 15–17 September. Held under the theme Aligning Industry with Purpose, the symposium will bring together industry leaders, government, researchers and international market experts to examine the commercial, operational and policy issues shaping one of Australia’s most important circular economy industries.
ARA President, Peter Milzewski, said the Symposium reflected the increasingly connected nature of the industries that rely on rendered products and recovered feedstocks.
“Our industry transforms animal co-products and used cooking oil into valuable feedstocks and ingredients that support renewable fuels, livestock production, pet food, aquaculture, fertilisers and manufacturing, creating value from materials that are not suitable for human consumption,” Milzewski said.
“That’s why this Symposium isn’t simply a gathering for renderers. It’s for everyone working across those interconnected industries who wants to better understand where markets are heading, how regulation is evolving and where new opportunities are emerging.”
The three-day program has been designed to connect practical plant operations with the broader commercial and policy landscape. The opening day will focus on operational excellence, with sessions covering odour and wastewater management, steam and hot water efficiency, workforce capability, environmental compliance and practical plant improvements. The following two days will explore the broader forces influencing the industry, including:
- Global economic and commodity market trends
- International outlooks for protein meals, fats and oils
- Australia’s emerging low-carbon liquid fuels market
- Renewable fuel policy, carbon intensity and feedstock demand
- The launch of the ARA Sustainability Framework
The Symposium is expected to attract delegates from across the meat processing, agriculture, renewable fuels, used cooking oil recycling, pet food, stockfeed, aquaculture, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, research and regulatory sectors, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of Australia’s food, energy and manufacturing supply chains.
The 2026 ARA International Symposium is supported by industry leaders from across the rendering, agriculture, renewable fuels and manufacturing sectors, including Keith Engineering, GrainCorp, Haarslev, Alfa Laval, Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC), iBulk, Kemin Industries, Natec Network, Neste, Oestergaard Australia, Rendertech, Ridley Corporation, Seaterra Ingredient Alliance and Wilmar Trading Australia.
For more information about the program and tickets, visit arasymposium.com.au.