October 2024

The National Provisioner’s October 2024 eMagazine includes our comprehensive State of the Industry Special Report. Get a broad overview of the challenges and opportunities awaiting meat, poultry, seafood and alternative protein products in the coming year.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 2024: OVERVIEW

State of the Industry: Consumers valuing convenience

While consumers increasingly seek new products that deliver value, the meat and poultry industry must balance opportunities with challenges, including the tight beef supply and avian influenza.

Dan Emery

November 4, 2024

No Comments

Meat needs to tap in to its ability to make eating occasions special to drive demand.

grocery store aisle with product recall label

FIGHT FOR FOOD SAFETY

The surge in USDA Public Health Alerts: A new focus in food safety

While only four Public Health Alerts were issued in 2019, 2023 saw a jump to 24.

Shawn K. Stevens

November 5, 2024

No Comments

The industry can expect the agency will continue to use Public Health Alerts more frequently.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: CHICKEN

State of the Industry: Chicken positioned for gains

Meal kits, packaging that offers no mess, and labels with information on nutrition appeal to younger shoppers.

Tom Super

October 16, 2024

No Comments

With per capita chicken consumption over 100 pounds, it will be increasingly necessary to develop chicken products for both the at-home and away-from-home markets.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: FOOD SAFETY

State of the Industry: Rough year in food safety

Processors must change the perception that the industry doesn’t care about customers and is making and selling unsafe products.

Andrew Lorenz

October 16, 2024

No Comments

The industry needs USDA APHIS to step up and develop better controls that our farmers, ranchers and feedlots can implement to reduce pathogen load.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: PACKAGING

State of the Industry: Packaging shifts to renewable sources

Primary objectives focus on sustainability and shelf life.

Jorge Izquierdo PMMI

October 16, 2024

No Comments

Recyclable fiber-based packaging can eliminate waste disposal fees incurred with non-recyclable packaging, increase efficiency, and reduce supply chain costs and carbon footprint.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: TURKEY

State of the Industry: Animal health, consumer education top turkey industry agenda

Turkey industry partners work with USDA and Congress to safeguard the industry.

Leslee Oden

October 16, 2024

No Comments

NTF urges USDA to establish a HPAI Strategic Initiative that engages the brightest minds within industry, academic research and government to develop novel methods to prevent, detect and respond to avian influenza.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: LAMB

State of the Industry: Promoting American lamb's versatility and reviving tradition

Promotional efforts play up lamb’s value cuts as well as premium cuts.

Mariah Meurer

October 31, 2024

No Comments

The US lamb industry is positioning lamb as a versatile and sustainable protein option.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: SUSTAINABILITY

State of the Industry: Collaborating to make sustainability advances across livestock supply chains

Livestock plays an important role in a sustainable food future, but advances cannot and will not happen in silos.

Samantha Werth PhD

October 30, 2024

No Comments

Emissions reductions opportunities are large within the livestock sector but remain a relatively small piece of the global emissions pie.

Group of black and white, mixed, crossbred beef heifers in a row

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: ANIMAL WELFARE

State of the Industry: Leveraging the relationship between animal welfare and sustainability

Improving animal health and welfare positively affect productivity and economic sustainability.

Elaine Vanier

October 29, 2024

No Comments

Producers adopt new ways of reducing environmental impacts, including attaining certification to standards that both improve animal health and productivity while reducing the carbon footprint.

USDA: Benefits of early calving are increasing due to late winter warming

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: ANIMAL AGRICULTURE

State of the Industry: The year of H5N1, or the year that animal agriculture unites across species?

NIAA looks to build on its work to unite industry leaders for the advancement of animal agriculture.

Morgan J. Young

October 26, 2024

No Comments

Animal agriculture experts and stakeholders need collaborative efforts to explore, discuss, learn and develop knowledge that fosters interdisciplinary cooperation for the improvement of animal agriculture.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: PLANT-BASED PROTEINS

State of the Industry: Evolution of plant-based proteins

The plant-based protein category undergoes massive shifts since first surging in popularity almost a decade ago.

Sammy Bredar

October 25, 2024

No Comments

Before the Butcher President and Founder Danny O’Malley shares the latest plant-based protein category insights.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: PORK

State of the Industry: The next generation of pork consumers

Pork industry must embrace opportunities to connect with younger demographics.

Jason Menke

October 24, 2024

No Comments

Long-term consumption trend remains flat to declining on a pounds-per-person-per-year basis.

Butter and lard as coating materials in beef aging

Overall, lipid-coated aging did not show clear advantages over wet aging.

Jonatã Henrique Rezende-de-Souza Gabriel Barão Arias Blanco Sérgio Bertelli Pflanzer

November 7, 2024

No Comments

Differences in volatile composition highlight how aging methods and treatment characteristics influence the meat's volatile profile, resulting in distinct sensory characteristics for each aging type.

Commentary: SMA

Navigating labor challenges in the meat industry

With an aging workforce and increased competition for workers, businesses often struggle to meet staffing needs.

Lacy Bates

November 6, 2024

No Comments

Processors must leverage employment-based immigration and domestic recruitment to manage labor shortages while embracing technological solutions.

A young brown calf at an agricultural farm

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: VEAL

State of the Industry: Veal consumption decrease underscores growth opportunities

At retail, both dollar sales and pounds sold are down.

Fred Wilkinson

October 27, 2024

No Comments

From August 2023 through August 2024, veal sales totaled $44 million.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: SEAFOOD

State of the Industry: Steady seafood consumption poised for growth

Messaging focusing on seafood’s nutrition, sustainability and cooking tips resonates with consumers.

Megan Rider

October 28, 2024

No Comments

Projections suggest the fish and seafood market will experience 2.3% volume growth in 2025.

On-Demand Join us for an exclusive look into the future of the protein industry with The National Provisioner’s 2024 State of the Industry webinar, a key feature of our October eMagazine. Dive deep into transformative insights as consumer research experts from Circana take the stage.

The International Production & Processing Expo is the world's largest annual poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industry event of its kind. A wide range of domestic and international decision-makers attend this annual event to find solutions for their business, network with industry colleagues, and learn about the latest technological developments and issues facing the industry.

The 2025 IPPE already has 1,200+ exhibitors that will occupy more than 583,000+ square feet of exhibit space. The 2025 IPPE will offer timely and important information and an efficient way for producers and processors to find solutions to enhance their operations.

We look forward to being with you again at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Mark your calendar to join us Jan. 28 - 30, 2025. You will not want to miss this "must-attend" event for our industries!

The National Provisioner

Cover Story

State of the Industry: Consumers valuing convenience

Feature Articles

The surge in USDA Public Health Alerts: A new focus in food safety

State of the Industry: Chicken positioned for gains

State of the Industry: Rough year in food safety

State of the Industry: Packaging shifts to renewable sources

State of the Industry: Animal health, consumer education top turkey industry agenda

State of the Industry: Promoting American lamb's versatility and reviving tradition

State of the Industry: Collaborating to make sustainability advances across livestock supply chains

State of the Industry: Leveraging the relationship between animal welfare and sustainability

State of the Industry: The year of H5N1, or the year that animal agriculture unites across species?

State of the Industry: Evolution of plant-based proteins

State of the Industry: The next generation of pork consumers

Independent Processor

Butter and lard as coating materials in beef aging

Navigating labor challenges in the meat industry

State of the Industry: Veal consumption decrease underscores growth opportunities

State of the Industry: Steady seafood consumption poised for growth

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