Events and Education Calendar
Each year the Meat Institute in conjunction with the Foundation for Meat & Poultry Research & Education, conducts a series of annual conferences and educational workshops to meet the needs of our membership, the meat industry and their retail and food service customers
Foreign Material: 2026 Benchmarking Findings & Industry Insights
October 15th, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET
Foreign material contamination is a persistent and costly challenge for the food industry with impacts on safety, brand reputation and operational efficiency. In this exclusive webinar, FlexXray will unveil the results of its 2026 Foreign Material in Food Benchmark Survey, capturing the latest data, trends, and industry insights from food safety and quality leaders across the country.
Be among the first to access this year’s findings and take away actionable insights to strengthen your foreign material control program, protect your brand, and safeguard your bottom line.
You’ll discover:
- How the frequency and cost of foreign material incidents have shifted since last year’s benchmark.
- The technologies and detection methods that are gaining—or losing—industry confidence.
- Where contamination risks are most common in 2026, from raw ingredients to finished goods.
- Best practices companies are using now to prevent and respond to incidents more effectively.
Beyond the Numbers: Preparing Your Meat Processing Business for California’s 2027 Disclosure
October 21st, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET
As California’s Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) rolls out, meat processors doing business in the state face a fundamental shift in how greenhouse gas (GHG) data is collected, stored, and validated. Beginning in 2027, covered organizations will face expanded disclosure expectations compared with 2026, including Scope 3 emissions reporting, while also requiring independent third-party assurance of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. While large public corporations may already routinely undergo GHG data assurance for standard disclosures, private packing and processing firms face a steep learning curve.
Starting in 2027, simply calculating Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions will no longer be enough - companies must obtain limited assurance from an independent third-party auditor. This means your utility bills, refrigeration logs, fuel records, and operational assumptions will be scrutinized under formal standards. Join experts from Environ Energy for a practical discussion of what companies need to know today to prepare for 2027.
The webinar will begin with an overview of SB 253 reporting requirements, including the evolving Scope 3 disclosure landscape and key compliance milestones. Additionally, we’ll then explore how meat processors can prepare their data, systems, and teams for third-party verification. Drawing on real-world experience helping organizations transition from manual spreadsheets to audit-ready compliance frameworks, this session demystifies what "limited assurance" actually means for day-to-day facility management.
Winning Across Generations: Merchandising Meat in a High-Cost Living Environment
October 27th, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET
Rising living costs and persistent inflation are reshaping how consumers shop for meat and poultry. From Gen Z consumers managing tight budgets to Baby Boomers adapting to fixed-income realities, each generation is making different purchasing decisions based on affordability, convenience, household size, and value.
Join Amcor and Circana for a data-driven discussion on how Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers are responding to economic pressures and what those shifts mean for meat and poultry manufacturers and retailers. The session will explore key differences in purchasing behavior, the role of pricing and promotions, evolving household demographics, and the growing demand for convenient, right-sized packaging solutions.
Attendees will gain insights into effective strategies for marketing to four generations, including how to tailor messaging, merchandising, and product offerings to meet distinct consumer needs. The webinar will also examine opportunities for packaging innovation, including smaller pack sizes, accessible price points, sustainable packaging solutions, and formats designed to address changing household sizes over time.
Learn how brands can balance value, convenience, and sustainability to better connect with today's shoppers and drive growth across generations.
Advanced Listeria monocytogenes Intervention and Control Workshop
October 28-29, 2026
Kansas City, MO
RTE manufacturers face the constant challenge of controlling Listeria monocytogenes to produce safes products. This intimate workshop provides a comprehensive understanding of Listeria control, sanitation, sanitary design, environmental monitoring, investigations, corrective actions, and critical information to effectively navigate regulatory issues and standards. Attendees will engage in hands-on exercises, including a critical thinking exercise focused on ‘seek and destroy’ scenarios. This unique learning experience provides valuable insights and actionable takeaways that can be directly applied to your plants with take-home action items for continuous improvement. Seats are limited, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the workshop.
Who Should Attend: Professionals in food safety and quality, technical services, production, sanitation, HACCP, regulatory affairs, microbiology, maintenance, engineering, research development and operations.
The Cost of Product Movement: What Protein Processors are Learning About Yield Loss
October 29th, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET
In this operations-focused webinar, meat processors will learn how to uncover and address hidden yield losses caused by product damage, giveaway, and inefficient conveyance between processing steps. Attendees will discover operational strategies and technologies to resolve the root causes of yield loss, helping improve line performance, throughput, and profitability.
Meat and the GLP-1 Mindset
November 10th, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET
One in six U.S. adults ages 18 to 75 now use a GLP-1 medication. GLP-1 medications are changing how consumers approach food, but the story is far more nuanced than simply “eating less.” The real story is about what they are choosing, why they are choosing it, and how much of that behavior is actually unique to GLP-1 use versus behaviors driven by demographics such as age and income. As consumers prioritize protein, nutrient density, low-carb choices, and convenient portions, meat and poultry are winning GLP-1 consumers' hearts and carts.
Join us for a data-driven look at GLP-1 consumers to understand category momentum and future opportunities. Learn about GLP-1 consumers:
- Demographics, lifestyles, and general approaches to food and meals.
- Meat- and poultry-specific perceptions and behaviors, including purchase drivers, production claims, and shopping habits.
- Actual meat and poultry purchases at the category and sub-category levels, separating genuine GLP-1 signals from demographic differences.
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Annual Meat Conference
March 1-3, 2027
Dallas, TX
Environment, Labor & Safety+ Conference
April 26-28, 2027
Louisville, KY
Animal Care & Handling Conference
May 11-12, 2027
Kansas City, MO
Advanced Listeria monocytogenes Intervention & Control Workshop
June 9-10, 2027
Kansas City, MO
Meat Industry Food Safety Conference
September 22-23, 2027
Kansas City, MO
Solutions Summit
October 13-15, 2027
San Antonio, TX
