Dibaq Authority · Nutrition and Product Development

Elena Fernández Sánchez

Veterinarian · Director of the Pet Nutrition and Product Development Department

Veterinarian specializing in the development of pet food and head of the R&D product department at Dibaq for more than 15 years.

His career

Her passion for animals led her to study veterinary medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in León, her hometown. There were always cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals at home, which sparked her interest in animal nutrition and production subjects from her university studies.

After graduating in 1999, she completed an internship in a small animal clinic and then undertook demanding fieldwork on farms in eastern León. Shortly after, she worked as an official veterinarian during a holiday period and, almost immediately, was awarded a grant from the Economic Development Agency of Castile and León to join a research project at Dibaq, where she has worked since 2001.

He started on the group's pig farms and integrated pig operations, then moved to rabbit farming as a sales technician, and later joined Dibaq's pet food sales team, where he worked in sales for about five years. After that, he moved to the product department, where he trained in dog and cat nutrition and began developing formulas that were much simpler than the complex ones used today.

Areas of specialization

  • Nutrition and feeding of dogs and cats
  • Pet food manufacturing processes (extrusion, sterilization, baking…)
  • Legislation applicable to the petfood sector
  • Raw materials, additives and formulation programs
  • Technical dossiers and quality controls
  • HACCP and audits (IFS)
  • Training and technical support for sales teams
  • Member of the ANFAAC technical committee

Professional career

  • 2000 Official Veterinary Services of the Regional Government of Castile and León
  • 2001 Research project (grant) Economic Development Agency of Castilla y León
  • 2001 – 2002 Veterinary technical assistance on Dibaq pig farms
  • 2002 – 2003 Veterinary technical assistance on rabbit farms Dibaq
  • 2003 – 2008 Sales Technician for Pet Food at Dibaq
  • 2008 – 2012 Technician in formulation, development and innovation of pet food Dibaq
  • 2012 – Present Veterinarian specializing in animal nutrition · Director of the Nutrition and Pet Product Development Department at Dibaq

Academic background

  • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine , Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of León · June 2000
  • Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude (CAP) — Natural Sciences, Biology and Geology Institute of Educational Sciences, University of León · April 2001

Additional training and certifications

View all 20 certifications and courses
  • 02/2000 — Veterinary Intervention in Public Health Course. Foundation for Health Studies and Training, Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. 100h / 4.4 credits.
  • 05/2000 — Industrial Wastewater Analyst Course. Training and Employment Foundation of the Regional Government of Castile and León (FOREM). 240 hours.
  • 11/2001 — Professional Rabbit Farming Conference: Artificial Insemination and Pathology. Royal School of Poultry Farming, Barcelona. 16h.
  • 06/2003 — "Sales Techniques" Course. Europa Aula Training.
  • 11/2003 — Advanced Program "Commercial Negotiation". Instituto de Empresa.
  • 10/2007 — R&D&I Congress "Possible research in the agri-food sector: reflections at the beginning of the 21st century". FIAB.
  • 03/2008 — Prevention, safety and maintenance in the operation of forklift trucks. Training and Employment Foundation, JCyL. 30h.
  • 11/2008 — Training course "Meeting Management". Tripartite Foundation. 16 hours.
  • 01/2009 — "IFS Protocol: Presentation of audit results and structure of the standard" (8h) and "The HACCP system: theoretical description, development, CCPs and control measures" (20h). Izamac Technical Assistance.
  • 04/2009 — Course on Hygiene in the Production of Animal Feed and Raw Materials. Agricultural Training Center of Segovia, JCyL. 30h.
  • 05/2010 — 1st Congress of Agri-food Biotechnology. Vitartis, Innovative Business Group of Agri-food Biotechnology of Castilla y León.
  • 06/2011 — Training course "Improving professional performance: method of action". Tripartite Foundation for Employment Training.
  • 03/2015 — Course "Basic principles of heat treatment in autoclaves and process validation". CNTA. 12h.
  • 07/2015 — Food Defense Training. ZITEC / Tripartite Foundation.
  • 06/2018 — Conference "Animal feed within the framework of the circular economy". Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environment.
  • 04/2019 — Course "Veterinary Nutrition and Dietetics". ISED, Higher Institute of Studies (canine, feline, exotic species nutrition and clinical nutrition).
  • 03/2021 — "Functionality and technology of starch". CETECE, Cereal Technology Centre.
  • 02/2023 — Training action "Plastic packaging for food use". ANFACO-CECOPESCA.
  • 02/2023 — "Clinical Pet Nutrition Course". UK Pet Food. 25h.
  • 10/2024 — Training course "Identification and control of pests in the food industry". Abiomed Higiene SL

Awards

Active member of the technical committee of ANFAAC (National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers) for more than 12 years.

Publications and appearances

Scientific publication

"Effects of Inclusion of a Novel Insoluble Fiber Concentrate with Prebiotic Activity on Palatability and Faecal Quality in Dogs." Agnieszka Rybicka, Elena Fernández , Celia Rocha and Pedro Medel.

Podcast

Stubborn — Canine Nutrition : Interview with Elena Fernández about canine nutrition.

Presentation

Dibaq Sense Chile 2025 International Nutritional Seminar : participation as a speaker, representing the Department of Nutrition and Petfood Product Development of Dibaq.