Cut Waste, Grow Profit Forum

Nov 20, 2012

On Monday, November 19, 2012 approximately 85 participants, which included representatives from food service/retail, academia, farmers, government and academia attended the Cut Waste, GROW PROFIT Forum, which was hosted by the George Morris Centre at the Maple Leaf ThinkFood Centre in Mississauga. The theme of the day was on how to reduce food waste, leading to increased profitability and environmental sustainability.

Focus was placed on the four main areas:

Canadian opportunities within an international perspective
Opportunities in processing and distribution
Reducing food waste along the value chain
Creating institutional change

Participants had the opportunity to hear from speakers such as Dr. Keivan Zokaei, University of Buckingham (UK); Andrew Telfer, Manager of Sustainability, Walmart Canada; David Smith, Vice President of Sustainability, Sobeys Inc; Jamie Reaume, Chair, Ontario Food Terminal/ Executive Director, Holland Marsh Growers’ Association, and more.

Source: OntarioPork

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.