Worker injury rates in the U.S. poultry industry posted a significant decline in the last 29 years and this week’s MeatingPod guest explains how this milestone was achieved through innovation, education and collaboration. Matt Spencer is vice president of human resources and safety programs at USPOULTRY, which monitors trends industrywide. He notes that poultry processors were eager to share new approaches that addressed such issues as musculoskeletal disorders and other potential hazards in the workplace that threaten worker safety. He also addresses how robotics and automation initiatives are improving safety on several levels of poultry processing operations.

Dr. Denise Heard, vice president of Research Programs at the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, updates recent results from research partially funded by the organization known primarily as USPOULTRY. She also outlines how the process works regarding the research support arms of the association and its USPOULTRY Foundation. Dr. Heard provides a sneak peek into the upcoming 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), the annual poultry industry gathering scheduled for Atlanta in late January 2025. USPOULTRY is a major sponsor of the gathering that offers attendees the opportunity to attend more than 80 educational, college student and career program sessions and networking events throughout the three-day trade show.

In this MeatingPod episode, Brad Johnson, CEO of Verde Farms, outlines the challenges and processes to maintain innovations and safety standards for the company’s line of 100% grass-fed and organic beef products. The Mass.-based processor is focused on keeping the lines of communications open with its retail customers in addition to conducting its own research on consumer trends. Verde Farms, he notes, is focused on trying to keep ahead of what shoppers are looking for when it comes to grass-fed and organic meat products.