Leveraging AI in the Red Meat and Livestock Industry for Growth and Efficiency; How to Use it Now and in the Future?

In the fast-evolving world of agribusiness, staying ahead of the curve is not just an option but a necessity. For organisations within the red meat and livestock sector, Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a remarkable opportunity to revolutionise both operational efficiencies and marketing strategies, and it is happening here and now. Here are just a few ways GMA can share how leveraging AI technology can benefit industry, and how some organisations are doing so already:

Optimising Production and Supply Chain Management

AI-driven predictive analytics can transform the way livestock is managed, from breeding to slaughter. By analysing vast amounts of data on animal health, behaviour, and environmental conditions, AI algorithms can predict the optimal time for breeding, identify health issues before they become widespread, and ensure that animal welfare standards are consistently met. This leads to a more efficient production process, higher quality meat products, and reduced losses for producers.

In supply chain management, AI can forecast demand more accurately, optimise logistics and distribution routes, and manage inventory more effectively. This ensures that the right products reach the right markets at the right time, reducing waste and maximizing profitability.

Enhancing Quality Control

AI technologies, including machine learning and computer vision, are being used to automate quality control processes in meat processing plants. These systems can analyse images of meat cuts to grade them based on quality standards, ensuring consistency and reducing human error. This not only speeds up the processing line but also provides a transparent and objective assessment of meat quality that can be communicated to consumers.

Marketing Strategies

As share in our main March report, organisations looking to market red meat and livestock products more effectively, will have to be across the benefits of AI’s new, powerful tools. Customer data analysis can identify purchasing patterns and preferences, enabling personalised marketing campaigns that speak directly to consumer desires. While social media sentiment analysis, powered by AI, can gauge public opinion and trends, allowing companies to adjust their marketing strategies in real time to engage with their audience more effectively.

Moreover, AI can optimise digital advertising campaigns through automated A/B testing and targeting, ensuring that marketing budgets are spent on the most effective channels and messages. This not only increases ROI but also strengthens brand loyalty among consumers.

Ensuring Sustainability and Traceability

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their food choices and the sustainability of farming practices. AI can help address these concerns by optimising resource use in livestock farming, reducing emissions, and improving the overall sustainability of production processes. Additionally, blockchain technology combined with AI can enhance traceability, providing consumers with a clear history of the meat they purchase, from farm to fork. This transparency builds trust and can be a strong selling point in marketing campaigns.

Chat GPT Update

As we looked at in the March report with organisations such as Beef + Lamb New Zealand and AHDB UK, Chat GPT is one of many the AI models that some organisations are already using to great benefit. It has been nearly a year since Open AI released GPT-4, one of the most sophisticated artificial-intelligence models and the brain behind Chat GPT which many of us know already, its original groundbreaking robot conversationalist. Others include Claude from Anthropic, Microsoft Copilot, and Google’s Bard. Since then, the market capitalisation of America’s technology industry, broadly defined, has risen by half, creating $6trn in shareholder value. (The Economist) The buzz around AI has also lifted the share prices of other tech giants, including Alphabet (Google’s corporate parent), Amazon and Microsoft, who are all spending big on developing the technology. (The Economist)

Therefore, if the red meat industry want to keep up, we need to be doing more than just ‘window-dressing’ , ie rebranding run-of-the-mill digitisation efforts as “Gen AI programmes” says Kristina McElheran of the University of Toronto. Presto, a purveyor of restaurant tech, introduced a Gen AI assistant to take orders at drive-throughs. But on launching, 70% of the orders require a human to help and it was not ready to yet rely on AI to deliver the full service. (The Economist)

Conclusion

The application of AI technology in the red meat and livestock industry offers a huge range of benefits which we need to not be afraid to try, from operational efficiencies to enhanced marketing strategies. As organisations look to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, embracing AI technology will be key to achieving sustainable growth and meeting the evolving demands of consumers. The future of the red meat and livestock sector is bright, with AI leading the way towards a more modern, efficient, sustainable, and consumer-centric industry.