Upcoming Events
Events and Education Calendar
Each year the Meat Institute in conjunction with the Foundation for Meat & Poultry Research & Education, conducts a series of annual conferences and educational workshops to meet the needs of our membership, the meat industry and their retail and food service customers
Regulatory Services Update
Thursday, March 19th | 1:00 PM ET
We invite you to participate in our upcoming Regulatory Services Update, where we will cover critical topics essential for maintaining compliance, including:
- HACCP Initial Validation
- Non-Compliance Report Workshop
- SSOP Corrective Actions
- Review of hot topics, including a discussion on the PHR list and staff updates
Environment, Labor, and Safety
April 20-22, 2026
Houston, TX
ELS+ is a platform designed for safety, environmental compliance, and HR professionals in the meat industry to stay ahead of emerging trends and challenges. Our experts focus on practical and applicable insights, sharing essential information to help you keep your workforce and facilities safe, engaged, and up to date. This community provides a secure environment where you can discuss challenges and learn from peers about what strategies are effective and which ones aren’t. Most importantly, you will leave equipped with tools and talking points to effectively communicate your valuable ideas back at your plant.
Who Should Attend: Professionals at all levels in safety, human resources, and environmental compliance.
Animal Care and Handling
May 12-13, 2026
Kansas City, MO
The Animal Care & Handling Conference is the only event dedicated to advancing animal welfare and handling practices, particularly within the meat industry’s slaughter sector. This unique gathering brings together industry leaders, academics, and practitioners, bridging academic research and real-world application. Unlike other conferences, it encourages open dialogue and shares practical, actionable solutions designed for those working in slaughter operations. Attendees will gain valuable insights, network with peers, and leave equipped with strategies to enhance animal care and handling in their daily practices.
Who Should Attend: Professionals in animal welfare and handling, compliance, food safety and quality, technical services, and academia.
Advanced Listeria monocytogenes Intervention and Control Workshop
June 2-3, 2026
Kansas City, MO
RTE manufacturers face the constant challenge of controlling Listeria monocytogenes to produce safes products. This intimate workshop provides a comprehensive understanding of Listeria control, sanitation, sanitary design, environmental monitoring, investigations, corrective actions, and critical information to effectively navigate regulatory issues and standards. Attendees will engage in hands-on exercises, including a critical thinking exercise focused on ‘seek and destroy’ scenarios. This unique learning experience provides valuable insights and actionable takeaways that can be directly applied to your plants with take-home action items for continuous improvement. Seats are limited, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the workshop.
Who Should Attend: Professionals in food safety and quality, technical services, production, sanitation, HACCP, regulatory affairs, microbiology, maintenance, engineering, research development and operations.
Meat Industry Food Safety Conference
September 15-16, 2026
Oklahoma City, OK
The Meat Industry Food Safety Conference brings together food safety professionals across the industry, creating opportunities to openly share experiences and best practices that contribute to addressing the meat industry's most pressing challenges. From the latest scientific findings on foodborne pathogens and evolving food safety regulations and guidance documents to emerging threats, this event will inspire new innovative approaches to your food safety challenges and provide actionable and practical solutions to advancing your food safety programs.
Who Should Attend: Professionals in food safety and quality, technical sales, compliance, regulatory affairs, science and innovation, microbiology, research and business development.
The Solutions Summit
October 7-9, 2026
New Orleans, LA
This is the premier event where the efforts you make in your operation meet with the entire meat value chain to address the multitude of sustainability, supply chain management, animal welfare, food safety, and consumer trust challenges. This is not just a conference with endless speeches; it's a reimagined platform where industry leaders can come to benchmark their strategies, where innovators collaborate to find solutions, and where we all partner on pre-competitive action. Attend to discover how forward-thinking companies are future-proofing their business and leave with practical insights to help your organization reach its goals.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: CEOs, COOs, sustainability, FSQA, animal welfare, legal and supply chain executives.


