Meat Is Back—But So Are the Disruptions: Why AI Must Be in Your Playbook

At this year’s Expana Executive Conference in Las Vegas, the atmosphere was clear: meat is back, and so is consumer demand for high-quality animal protein.

As Owen Wright summarized in his event highlights, the mood among senior leaders in the animal protein industry was a mix of cautious optimism and sharp realism. U.S. consumers spent over $500 billion on meat last year, and demand isn’t fading—despite inflation, global conflict, and income pressures. As Michael Swanson noted, “Americans are natural-born spenders,” and animal protein remains a cornerstone of their diets.

But let’s be clear—this comeback isn’t without complexity.

Panelists from the World Bank, USAPEEC, and the American Farm Bureau drove home the point: we’re operating in a world defined by disruption and high uncertainty. From avian influenza outbreaks and workforce shortages to geopolitical tensions and retaliatory tariffs, the meat industry faces volatile headwinds. New and re-emerging disease threats like Foot and Mouth Disease, ASF, and New World screwworm threaten to reshape markets overnight. Meanwhile, a more conscious, skeptical consumer is asking deeper questions about food sourcing, safety, and corporate responsibility.

In the face of this relentless volatility, we must ask ourselves: how do we lead with resilience, not just react?

For me, the answer is increasingly clear: AI is no longer optional. It’s the operational backbone we need to navigate—and capitalize on—disruption.

AI is the enabler that allows companies to:

And now, we’re entering the next evolution of AI: Agentic AI.

Unlike traditional AI or even generative AI, Agentic AI is goal-driven, context-aware, and capable of acting autonomously. Think beyond dashboards and recommendations. These agents interface with your systems, learn from outcomes, and execute decisions independently. According to McKinsey and Dr. Rajiv Garg of Emory University, by 2028:

This is not hype. It’s a fast-moving reality—and those who embed it into their strategy now will gain a decisive edge.

So, my advice to meat industry leaders is this: Stay curious. Experiment early. Build your AI roadmap. Because in this age of uncertainty, the winners won’t be those who react to disruption—they’ll be the ones who design for it.