From Legacy to Leading-Edge: Dairy Plant Modernization Strategies
June 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm ET
Consumer trends for healthy, clean label, natural, protein rich food options have created an urgent need for plant modernization in the dairy industry.
Legacy dairy facilities face mounting pressure to modernize while maintaining productivity, safety, and compliance. This webinar explores practical strategies for upgrading older plants using today’s automation technologies, with real-world comparisons between traditional and modern dairy processing methods. Attendees will gain actionable insights into identifying high-ROI improvements, and executing cost-effective upgrades that enhance operational efficiency, product quality, and long-term competitiveness.
Expect an honest conversation about how to:
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Identify high-impact modernization opportunities in legacy dairy plants.
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Evaluate automation upgrades that improve efficiency and consistency.
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Prioritize upgrades based on ROI, risk reduction, and operational impact.
Speakers
Kristen Lee
Director of Business Initiatives
ReFed
Kristen Lee serves as Director of Business Initiatives, leading ReFED's work on the U.S. Food Waste Pact—the first national data-driven, pre-competitive collaboration on food waste reduction.
Previously, Kristen worked in sustainability in corporate foodservice operations, first with Aramark on the Nike WHQ account and, most recently, with Compass Group on the Google Food Program in the Bay Area.
Outside of work, Kristen has taught as an adjunct lecturer at Santa Clara University on food industry innovation and sustainability. They enjoy being outside, swimming, foraging, and cycling long distances to raise money for climate action and justice organizations with Climate Ride.
Ryan Lynch
Practice Director, Sustainability Practice
The British Standards Institute (BSI)
Ryan Lynch is the Practice Director of BSI's Sustainability Practice, and leads a team of practitioners focused on driving collective action to advance decarbonization, climate action, and sustainable supply chains. He and his Climate/Carbon team develop and manage GHG reporting programs, conduct Life Cycle Assessments, develop Carbon Reduction Management Programs, and deliver Climate Risk Adaptation Programs. He and his Sustainable Supply Chain team also have extensive experience related to decent work, forced labor, and EHS/GHG improvements in global supply chains.
Bob Garrison, Moderator
Director of Industry Engagement - Food & Beverage Manufacturing and Innovation Sector
BNP Media
In February 2026, BNP Media named Bob Garrison Director of Industry Engagement for the company’s Food & Beverage Manufacturing and Innovation Sector. This group includes eight industry titles and four events.
Broad industry titles include Prepared Foods (innovation / R&D), Food Engineering (food operations/automation), Packaging Strategies and Refrigerated & Frozen Foods (cold chain). Vertical industry titles include Beverage Industry, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery (including Candy), National Provisioner (meat/poultry/seafood) and Dairy Foods.
Prior to this role, Garrison served from 2012 through 2025 as Editor-in-Chief of Prepared Foods, a title serving 43,000 qualified food and beverage executives influencing new products—from consumer insights and strategic innovation through food science, R&D, culinary, nutrition and purchasing.
