As part of our commitment to supporting local communities, Solutions Summit attendees are invited to help assemble protein packs for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Louisiana. Volunteers will package thousands of protein-rich snack packs that will help provide nutritious food to individuals and families facing food insecurity across the region.

This effort is made possible through the generous support of Marcus Food Company, sponsor of the Protein PACKS activity, and product donations from Archer, Chomps, Hormel Foods, Link Snacks, and Old Trapper. 

Additional monetary contributions are welcome and will be used to purchase supplemental items for the protein packs. To learn more or contribute, please contact events@meatinstitute.org.

This opening session sets the stage for the days ahead by introducing a more member-focused, business-driven Solutions Summit experience designed to help leaders connect, learn, and turn insights into action for stronger, more future-ready organizations. The 2026 Solutions Summit offers a forward-looking view of the forces shaping today’s protein industry—from workforce pressures and regulatory demands to technology disruption, supply chain resilience, and market volatility—and why practical, integrated solutions are essential for long-term success. 

As the food system faces intensifying pressure, building resilience requires leaders to move beyond silos and work together across sectors. This session will explore how connection and collective problem-solving can strengthen collaboration, spark practical solutions, and help shape a stronger future for food. 

Succession planning starts on the plant floor. This session examines the business risks of promoting frontline employees without a clear path to leadership readiness—and the impact on food safety, operational performance, retention, and margin.

Drawing on research from the Meat Institute’s Workforce Experience Committee, attendees will explore the data behind the frontline succession challenge and practical strategies for identifying, developing, and advancing high-potential talent. The session will also introduce tools to assess succession readiness and identify critical gaps.

Animal welfare is more than a compliance requirement – it is a critical business consideration for leaders up and down the supply chain.  As customer expectations, retailer requirements, and public scrutiny continue to change, plant and operations leaders play an increasingly important role in supporting animal care practices that protect brand reputation, strengthen customer relationships, and drive operational excellence. This session will explore how leading companies are integrating animal welfare into broader business strategy, where challenges and gaps remain, and how plant-level decisions can support both operational performance and long-term business success. 

What can established organizations learn from the fast-paced, high-stakes world of startups? This concurrent session will explore the leadership and strategic principles that help young companies navigate uncertainty, build resilient cultures, and grow from idea to impact. Through firsthand experiences and practical insights, attendees will discover how startup leaders make decisions with limited resources, inspire teams through rapid change, and create strategies that balance vision with execution.

Designed for CEOs, business leaders, HR professionals, and strategy practitioners, this conversation will uncover actionable lessons that can help organizations of any size foster innovation, strengthen culture, and lead more effectively in an increasingly dynamic and challenging business environment.

Issues, Actions, Solutions is an active, participant-driven session built around collaborative problem-solving. This is not a presentation or a discussion focused solely on identifying challenges. Instead, attendees will work directly with their peers to address the issues that matter most to their businesses, exchange successful best practices, and develop practical solutions. Guided by structured facilitation, participants will leave with tangible next steps, fresh perspectives, and solutions they can take back and apply within their organizations. 

Start Day 2 of Solutions Summit with a welcome back and a celebration of the industry’s next generation of leaders. This session will set the tone for the day ahead, highlight key opportunities for connection and learning, and recognize Emerging Leaders for their commitment, growth, and role in shaping a strong, forward-looking meat and protein industry.

Gain a timely update on the commodity markets and policy developments shaping the protein industry. Dr. Justin Benavidez will provide USDA insights on supply and demand fundamentals, livestock and feed markets, trade flows, consumer demand, and price trends influencing business conditions today. Attendees will also learn how economic, agricultural, and trade policy developments may impact market expectations, costs, and opportunities in the year ahead. This session provides the market context leaders need to understand the current operating environment and prepare for what comes next.

As the meat industry becomes increasingly connected through automation, digital systems, third-party vendors, and AI-enabled technologies, cyber threats have evolved from an IT concern into a significant business and operational risk. A single cyber incident can disrupt production, interrupt logistics, impact customer service, and create costly downtime across the supply chain. This session will explore the real-world consequences of cyber-attacks, where companies are most vulnerable, and how emerging technologies can introduce new risks when not properly managed. Industry and security experts will share practical strategies for strengthening resilience, protecting critical operations, and reducing the likelihood of business interruption in an increasingly connected environment.

AI is rapidly changing how meat and protein companies operate, but the biggest opportunities often come from practical applications rather than large-scale technology investments. This workshop-style session will explore how organizations are using AI to improve decision-making, streamline operations, and unlock value from existing data across supply chain and business functions. Featuring real-world examples, implementation lessons, and audience Q&A, the session will provide attendees with actionable insights for moving from AI pilots to production and building a practical roadmap for adoption. 

Connect with peers and leaders from across the meat and poultry industry during this networking lunch. The program will also feature the presentation of the WMIN Most Impactful Woman of 2026 Award, recognizing a leader whose mentorship, advocacy and commitment are helping advance women across the industry.

The world is going to see more economic change in the next 5 years than we have seen in the last 100 years. AI adoption, humanoid robots, US-China tariff fights, war in the Ukraine & ME, interest rate volatility are all examples of the speed of change.  

But how did we get here? More importantly, where do we go from here?

Andy provides the context needed to understand the forces at work creating momentum for change in the economy and your business. Agentic AI, executive orders, tariffs and drones are just a few of the extraordinary tools/spending being leveraged right now. Are you aligning yourself for what will occur? Andy literally wrote the book on large, catastrophic events and how they impact our markets, economy and world. 

As a futurist and economist, Andy dives deep into exploring how innovation, policy changes and societal shifts (war/elections) drive opportunities for clients. He provides context by doing a “where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going” for the economy. He takes the trends super charged by infectious diseases, climate, war and political uncertainty then applies them to your industry to unlock growth opportunities with actionable strategies to achieve them.

This discussion will move beyond policy updates to examine what these developments mean for business leaders. Industry experts will discuss the policy issues with the greatest strategic implications, where momentum is heading, and how executives can position their organizations to respond proactively, manage risk, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the policy issues shaping the future of the protein industry and the strategic considerations needed to position their organizations for long-term success.

Dr. Justin Ransom, Administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), will share how the agency is putting its strategy of Strong People, Smart Systems, and Safe Food into practice by leading through change, building a stronger culture, and developing leaders at every level. Drawing on his experience in both industry and government, he will discuss what it takes to turn strategy into results, with lessons leaders can bring back to their own organizations.

As the Solutions Summit comes to a close, this fireside chat will bring together Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts will lead a forward-looking conversation on what is next for the protein industry. Reflecting on key themes from the Solutions Summit, including workforce, policy, supply chain, and technology, this discussion will focus on the decisions leaders must make to navigate complexity and position their organizations for long-term success. Attendees will gain a broader perspective on the opportunities ahead and leave with a renewed sense of direction, purpose, and confidence in leading through change.