According to Rockwell Automation’s 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, nearly 90% of food and beverage manufacturers are already using AI and machine learning or plan to do so in the future.
Manufacturers aren’t the only subset to benefit from AI. Consumers are increasingly turning to AI agents to compare and purchase products, meaning product descriptions must be optimized for AI.
The capital will expand Pythag’s biological dataset and machine learning platform, which is designed to optimize cultivated meat production processes that can then be licensed to food companies.
Food manufacturers have invested in predictive maintenance technology and analytics for the last ten years in search of more uptime. Now, food industry leaders are witnessing partnerships for data contextualization that could be the missing “ingredient” to successful AI projects.
The pursuit of improved operational margins is difficult, as CPG companies face over 20% in cost losses due to inefficiencies. Many are implementing advanced sensors and contextual data analysis to enhance maintenance and develop AI-driven strategies in manufacturing.
For food and beverage manufacturers, AI readiness begins with gaining visibility into the plant that exists today, identifying the risks and constraints that matter most, and establishing a practical roadmap for modernization.
In addition to artificial intelligence (AI), big data and sustainability concerns, food industry professionals taking part in PMMI's research emphasized health-driven product shifts, ongoing workforce constraints and heightened sanitation scrutiny.
Some industry conversations fail to distinguish between genuine innovation and long-established automation, leaving plant and supply chain executives to make investment decisions without enough clarity to evaluate what they're actually buying.
Rather than a hodge-podge of sanitation and cleaning records scattered everywhere, why not tie them together digitally so they’re available in minutes or hours rather than days or weeks?
On Demand The session will examine emerging applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in food manufacturing, including how agentic AI could reshape operations, decision-making, and production workflows in the years ahead.