By Markita Lewis
The 29th annual USA Peanut Congress was held June 9–12, in Nashville, Tennessee. A joint effort between the American Peanut Council and the American Peanut Shellers Association, the event combines both organizations’ annual meetings into a single, industry-wide gathering.
As a first-time attendee of the full event, I found Peanut Congress to be an incredibly valuable and energizing experience.
The program featured a variety of sessions highlighting timely topics in the peanut industry. I had the opportunity to present The State of Peanut Allergies: Are We Close to a Cure? —a look at the latest advances in food allergy prevention, treatment and management since the publication of the original LEAP study. My presentation also emphasized the need to make early introduction a standard of care and encouraged attendees to use their platforms to amplify this message among healthcare professionals and new parents.
After the session, several attendees expressed excitement about innovations such as Neffy (the nasal spray form of epinephrine), Palforzia, Xolair, and Intrommune Therapeutics’ OMIT toothpaste. While we may not yet have a cure, there’s growing momentum and many breakthroughs to celebrate.
As someone who primarily focuses on nutrition and allergy, I was also fascinated by the agricultural and policy discussions throughout the conference. Martin Hahn’s session on the current regulatory landscape offered insight into how emerging policies could affect the peanut industry from farm to table. One of the most thought-provoking sessions came from Corey Rosenbusch, whose presentation on global geopolitics and its impact on U.S. agricultural inputs offered compelling context around food security.
Overall, USA Peanut Congress was a meaningful opportunity to learn more about the industry, share knowledge, and deepen connections with colleagues. It was great to see familiar faces and meet new partners in this growing and dynamic field. I’m already looking forward to the next Peanut Congress.