Interview with Ignasi Solana Vinyoles, Commissioner of the 8th Iberzoo Propet Forum 2026

Secretary General of AEDPAC. CEO of Pets2B. Educated at ESADE and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Consultant and founder of ITVET™. Writer and speaker on the petcare sector and the new pet-friendly culture from a social, cultural, and business perspective. He has been the commissioner of the AEDPAC Forum since 2018.

“The FORUM is the space where the sector reflects on itself.”

In its eighth edition, the AEDPAC Forum consolidates its role as the leading space for strategic reflection within the pet sector in Spain. Over the years, nearly 200 prominent figures have graced its stage, from professional associations and public administrations to business leaders, academics, and veterinary experts, creating a truly comprehensive overview of the sector. We spoke with its curator, Ignasi Solana Vinyoles, about the evolution of the FORUM, the new developments for 2026, and the immediate future, which will give way to the new Iberpet FORUM.

The Forum is celebrating its eighth edition. What is your assessment of this journey?

The greatest satisfaction is having brought together virtually all the leading associations, organizations, and prominent figures in the sector over these years.

These include AMVAC, ANFAAC, CEVE, Vet+i, Veterindustria, AVEPA, representatives from the academic, scientific, and university sectors, and public administration bodies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the Directorate General for Animal Rights, and the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), among others.

Experts, business owners, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and nutrition experts also participated. In total, nearly 200 voices created a diverse and representative space for the entire value chain.

From the beginning, we have always had the support, enthusiasm, and unwavering collaboration of the various IFEMA teams who have worked side-by-side with us throughout these years.

What does the FORUM represent within IberzooPropet?

One of the main objectives of the Forum is precisely to provide the event with a space where, in addition to visiting the commercial exhibition area or attending the scientific congress, professionals can reflect on the social, cultural, market, and industry trends that the sector is experiencing.

It's the place where we observe where the sector is headed through the voices of its own key players.

What are the main themes of this edition?

This year we wanted to delve into three main themes:

New business models and the value chain (Wednesday, 11th, 12:00 pm)

We analyze how the roles of manufacturers, distributors, and pet shops are changing, and how the concept of brand and value is evolving in the petcare market

The Humanization of Pets (Wednesday, 11th, 1:00 PM)

A particularly relevant panel discussion. We will explore whether we are witnessing social progress or if there are risks involved when the boundaries of the human-animal bond become blurred. This is a necessary debate, approached from the perspectives of science, ethics, and corporate responsibility

Abandonment and Adoption in Spain (Thursday 12, 12:30 pm)

This is one of the panels we are most excited about. We will address a structural challenge facing the country, with the perspectives of animal shelters, government agencies, and businesses. We want to go beyond simply diagnosing the problem and propose real, coordinated solutions.

The panel on abandonment and adoption has generated particular interest.

Yes, because we believe the sector must also acknowledge its social dimension. Abandonment cannot be analyzed solely from an emotional perspective; it requires data, institutional coordination, and shared corporate responsibility.

The traditional presentation by the Director General of Animal Rights is also returning.

Yes, on Thursday the 12th at 5:00 p.m., we will have a review of the past year since Law 7/2023 came into effect. It's a key presentation. The sector needs clarity, regulatory interpretation, and a vision for the future

The veterinary sector is playing a prominent role this year.

Undoubtedly. In collaboration with AMVAC and Vet+i, we are addressing both the current state of veterinary clinics and future challenges: business consolidation, digitalization, insurance, management, talent, and leadership.

Veterinarians are key figures in the value chain and deserve their own space for strategic reflection.

After eight years, what does the Forum represent today within Iberzoo Propet?

It represents the intellectual and strategic dimension of the fair. Iberzoo Propet is business, networking, and a trade exhibition. The Forum provides analysis, trends, vision, and debate. It's a dynamic platform where the sector listens to itself, engages in dialogue with government, incorporates academic perspectives, and reflects on its social responsibility to citizens and the public.

Next year, the Forum will evolve into FORUM Iberpet. What does this step mean?

It's a natural evolution after eight years of consolidation. The sector is now more international, more professional, and more interconnected.

The name change reflects a desire for growth and greater international visibility for the event, while maintaining its essence: to be the leading forum for social and business analysis in the pet trade and industry

In addition to the FORUM, studies and reports on the market, the professionals who work within it, and its social impact are also presented.

That's right. We are presenting the "3rd Petparent Barometer" of Social Habits and Consumption Trends of Petparents in Spain (2026 Edition), a study promoted by AEDPAC and conducted in collaboration with the consulting firm HAMILTON and with the support of IFEMA. This year, we are introducing the "1st Pet-Friendly Barometer," an analysis of the new pet-friendly culture: from concept to practice. We are studying how petparents perceive their experience in their daily lives and how companies in transportation, accommodation, hospitality, and retail, among other sectors, are adapting to this new reality. It is a valuable strategic tool for manufacturers, retailers, and service providers.

After eight years, what makes you feel especially satisfied?

That the FORUM has achieved something very difficult: creating a space for cross-sector dialogue where industry, commerce, veterinarians, government, and academia sit at the same table and share perspectives, identify synergies, and thus generate value that benefits the professionals in the sector by promoting shared innovation processes in various areas. This strengthens the sector and gives it maturity.

And that, ultimately, is the spirit of the FORUM: to think together about the present and future of the companion animal sector in Spain from various perspectives—commerce, manufacturing, veterinary, scientific, regulatory, etc.—and in this way, by exchanging knowledge, build a specific space, the common ground that constitutes the so-called companion animal sector in our country..