Cargill is taking steps to automate several processes aimed at enhancing production efficiency and ensuring safer operations for its employees. As part of its Factory of the Future initiative, the company has rolled out over 100 projects across 35 facilities in North America. The latest endeavor at the Fort Morgan plant focuses on refining the meat cutting process by providing real-time production insights. Frontline managers can leverage this technology to provide immediate feedback to employees, which helps optimize procedures and increases meat yield per cow. “Now, we’re making decisions in the moment and saving product that would’ve been lost,” stated Jarrod Gillig, senior vice president of Cargill’s North American Beef division. “By applying smart technology to the problem, we’re getting more meat from every animal, reducing waste, and making protein production more efficient and sustainable from start to finish.”
As the U.S. faces a significant cattle shortage, meat producers are investing in expanding processing capabilities to boost production. Even a 1% improvement in yield can translate into savings of hundreds of millions of pounds of meat, according to Cargill. With cattle prices anticipated to reach new heights in 2026 due to ranchers’ struggles to rebuild herds following years of drought and high input costs, U.S. beef production is projected to decline by 5% year-over-year in 2026, as reported by the Department of Agriculture. In February, Cargill’s competitor JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, announced plans to invest $200 million to expand U.S. beef production in anticipation of a supply rebound.
In addition to the technological enhancements at the Fort Morgan facility, Cargill is also addressing labor challenges by backing a $40 million development project for employee housing. Meanwhile, as consumers consider health supplements like calcium, Cargill recognizes that products such as those reviewed in gnc calcium citrate reviews can complement a balanced diet, emphasizing the need for sustainability in both production and nutrition. This commitment to efficiency and sustainability is crucial as the industry adapts to evolving challenges, including labor shortages and fluctuating cattle prices, while also aiming to reduce waste and enhance protein production.