IFFA 2025: Unlocking Value with Data-Driven Technologies

In the modern meat-processing industry, data is a key asset that drives efficiency, optimizes production, and enhances decision-making. By harnessing data analytics, companies can not only improve operational workflows but also anticipate market fluctuations and respond dynamically to changing consumer demands. IFFA 2025 – Technology for Meat and Alternative Proteins, the world’s premier trade fair for the industry, spotlights cutting-edge solutions under the theme ‘Creating Value from Data’.

Data-Driven Optimization Across the Production Chain

Data collection is integrated at every stage of meat processing. In slaughtering and cutting, sensors and high-resolution cameras monitor parameters such as weight, meat quality, and hygiene compliance. During processing and packaging, measurement tools track temperature and humidity to maintain product integrity and detect anomalies early. In storage and logistics, smart sensors ensure optimal environmental conditions to reduce spoilage. At the retail level, AI-powered analytics help predict demand trends, optimize supply chains, and streamline restocking processes.

Driving Efficiency with Data Analytics

Klaus Schröter, Chairman of the VDMA Meat and Protein Processing Technology Division, emphasizes the transformative potential of data: “Real-time data collection allows businesses to refine purchasing, production, and sales strategies. Advanced sensor technologies enhance efficiency in production and cleaning processes. Predictive analytics minimize unexpected downtimes by monitoring equipment performance, ensuring operational continuity and investment security.”

Advanced Control Systems and Intelligent Modules

Leading manufacturers now offer centralized control units that optimize the entire production workflow. These units integrate filling and portioning lines, process real-time machine data, and monitor output, quality, and downtime metrics through standardized Ethernet connections. Operators gain instant insights into key performance indicators, ensuring seamless operations.

Beyond full-scale solutions, modular control systems enhance individual production phases. For instance, intelligent slicers leverage image processing to achieve precise, uniform cuts based on shape, size, and weight. Additionally, data-driven analytics help determine the ideal blade type for specific products, further improving efficiency and minimizing waste.

Empowering Small-Scale Butchers

Data-driven automation isn’t limited to industrial-scale processing; it also benefits smaller, artisan butcheries. Automated mixing systems streamline complex, multi-stage recipe preparations, ensuring consistency and optimizing ingredient management. Integrated tracking systems facilitate long-term procurement planning while automating administrative and documentation tasks, reducing operational burdens.

AI Revolutionizing Meat Processing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping the future of meat processing. AI-driven analysis uncovers operational patterns and enhances decision-making. For example, AI-powered cutting systems improve precision in processing pork sides. “AI is a major industry trend,” says Klaus Schröter. However, integrating AI into small-scale butcheries remains a challenge, as noted by Herbert Dohrmann, President of the German Butchers’ Association: “Many artisanal businesses operate with unique structures, making AI adoption complex.”

AI is also revolutionizing quality assurance in packaging. Smart vision systems detect defects, such as color inconsistencies or foreign objects, and self-learning cameras automatically reject faulty packaging. Additionally, AI-driven predictive maintenance tools anticipate equipment failures, enabling proactive servicing to prevent costly downtime.

Innovations in Packaging and Sustainability

In the packaging sector, data analytics play a crucial role in developing sustainable solutions. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) use AI to simulate food shelf life based on factors like CO₂ concentration. This enables the design of biopolymer-based, fiber-reinforced, and recyclable packaging materials that extend product freshness while minimizing environmental impact. AI also helps optimize packaging designs to reduce material usage while ensuring durability and consumer acceptance.

Experience the Future of Meat Processing at IFFA 2025

From 3 to 8 May 2025, IFFA – Technology for Meat and Alternative Proteins will present the latest advancements in Frankfurt am Main. Discover groundbreaking innovations that harness the power of data to redefine efficiency, sustainability, and value creation in the meat industry. More information at www.iffa.com.