Capabilities like increased traceability and automation prove that technology is influencing how meat is produced, processed, packaged, handled, and even sold at retail, shared Rick Stein, VP of fresh foods at FMI.
Traceability in the supply chain has helped to provide greater customer transparency: more often shoppers are able to scan on-pack QR codes to learn more about the farm and animal the meat came from. Moving down the supply chain, processing facilities continue to increase efficiency by deploying robotics and automation to increase product consistency and safety.
Retailers in the supermarket deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning to maintain fresh meat products and avoid out-of-stocks.
“Innovations in technology are coming at a pivotal point for the meat retail sector,” said Stein in a blog post. “Consumers continue to eat at home more often and, although they have improved their cooking skills since the COVID-19 pandemic, they are still looking for help in choosing and preparing animal-based proteins.”
Technological advancements will only continue to solve problems in the meat sector, as in other areas of the industry. Full Story
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