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2026 Future of Food Manufacturing
Workforce, Technology Adoption & Organizational Readiness
Built on an industry-wide survey of 156 professionals at 150 companies, along with executive interviews, this report offers a clear-eyed look at where the industry stands today and where it is heading over the next five to ten years.
Respondents represent food processors, OEMs, solution and service providers, and consultants across every major sector, from meat, poultry, and seafood to prepared foods, pet food, bakery, dairy, and beverages.
The report explores technology and automation adoption, the role of artificial intelligence, drivers of investment, organizational readiness for change, workforce and talent needs, training and reskilling strategies, and the barriers standing in the way of progress. Findings are broken out by company type, so you can see how processors and their suppliers view the same challenges differently.
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Key Findings
3% of companies report full deployment of AI tools. AI remains a planning-stage technology, while automation and IoT are further along.
63% expect a shortage of skilled staff within five years. Only 1% expect a surplus.
74% say the complexity of automation and AI, not fear of job loss, is what drives employee hesitancy.
Only 7% have a formal reskilling path for employees whose roles are changed by automation.
Access the Report
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