Source: MEATINGPLACE, 3/26/18

Emerging technologies from robotics to blockchain can help the meat industry with issues including labor shortages and consumer demand for supply chain transparency, according to a panel of experts in an upcoming March 28 webinar presented by Meatingplace and sponsored by JLS Automation and Soft Robotics.

Blockchain is one of the technologies the panel will address.

“It’s no longer about product movement through the value chain; the movement of information through the value chain is now a key driver of value,” said webinar presenter Janette Barnard, who is sales and marketing director for DecisionNext, and author of "The Top Line" blog on Meatingplace. “One emerging mechanism to securely and accurately distribute information is through blockchain, a technology that holds potential to solve multiple problems in meat and poultry from transparency to price discovery.”

Barnard recently presented at USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum, where she noted the line between operational innovation and market-facing innovation are blurring as the supply chain is morphing.

Webinar panelist Bill Rupp, the former president of JBS Beef and Cargill Meat Solutions, sees abundant opportunities to use the data that is already generated in the producer/feeder/packer supply chain. “Combining data with the historical knowledge of the retailer, and mixing in consumer insights can create consumer successes with meat that haven’t been dreamed about,” he noted.

Technology also brings promise to relieve workers from repetitive tasks, which may mean different hiring and training strategies for meat plant executives.

"New technology requires cultivating a workforce that can learn, adapt, and troubleshoot quickly and effectively. Approaches to talent acquisition and development must keep pace in a competitive environment to meet these demands,” according to agribusiness recruiter and webinar panelist Tim Hammerich.

“Labor is the most critical issue facing meat and poultry processors today. This panel will address how emerging technologies can impact this issue in their plants,” said Meatingplace Publisher Bill Kinross.

Attendees of this webinar will:
• Understand the forces driving technology into the meat business
• Become familiar with the 5 most prominent emerging technologies
• Understand the 3 reasons to embrace technology
• Acquire 3 resources to continue learning about emerging technology

Register here for the webinar, which will take place Wednesday, March 28 at 1:00 Central Time.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.