Poultry Meat Processing at IPPE 2026: Sanitation, AI, and Automation Drive Food Safety

The processing of poultry and other meats will be one of the central topics at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) 2026, scheduled for January 27–29 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

As part of the program, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., the Meat Institute will host a key session focused on sanitation as the foundation of food safety, along with a specialized workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation applied to processing.

SANITATION: THE FOUNDATION FOR SAFE POULTRY AND OTHER MEAT PROCESSING

The session “Sanitation Fundamentals: Building the Foundation for Food Safety” will highlight the essential role of sanitation in poultry and other meat processing plants.

• Proper cleaning and disinfection of facilities, equipment, and processes are fundamental pillars for ensuring safe products, protecting public health, and complying with national and international regulatory requirements.
• Organized by the Meat Institute, this session is designed for both new industry professionals and those seeking to reinforce their knowledge of
• Attendees will learn the basic principles of effective cleaning and disinfection, as well as the importance of having strong, well-structured sanitation programs.

IMPACT OF SANITATION ON QUALITY, SAFETY, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

Beyond regulatory compliance, a robust sanitation program directly contributes to the quality of the final product, worker safety, and operational efficiency. Understanding how sanitation affects each processing stage enables companies to enhance performance and reduce food safety risks.

• Whether staff work directly on the plant floor or support operations, this session will demonstrate how sanitation is a strategic component in building a safe, efficient, and responsible food system—aligned with market and consumer expectations.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND AUTOMATION IN PROCESSING

Complementing the sanitation session, the same day will feature the workshop “Smarter Systems, Stronger Operations: Leveraging AI and Automation in Poultry and Other Meat Processing,” organized by the Meat Institute in collaboration with Infor.

• This workshop will provide a practical overview of how AI technologies function in real processing environments, covering areas such as demand forecasting, supply chain management, quality control, and production process automation.

REAL-WORLD CASE STUDIES AND PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE

The workshop will include case studies demonstrating how companies in the sector have improved traceability, optimized operations, and strengthened their competitiveness through the adoption of intelligent systems. It will also explore organizational change strategies required for successful digital transformation implementation.

• The combination of processing, sanitation, food safety, AI, and automation reflects the industry’s evolution toward more innovative, sustainable, and resilient models.