FOOD ENGINEERING Podcast

Christine Daugherty, vice president and chief sustainability officer at Conagra Brands, discusses the company’s approach to developing goals for packaging, carbon reduction and water stewardship, as well as Conagra’s Sustainable Development Awards, which recognize innovative, plant-level efforts to operate more sustainably.

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Richard Phillips, vice president of smart manufacturing for Polytron, discuss the foundations of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), detecting and deterring microstops, and using a manufacturing execution system to collect, synthesize and analyze valuable operational data. Let’s get started.

Sponsored by Regal Rexnord

In this episode, Will Brady, chief operating officer of Top Seedz, a seed-based cracker company in Buffalo, New York, discusses how he and his wife, CEO and founder Rebecca Brady, have continued to grow and automate Top Seedz with support from local business programs – culminating with a recent expansion that has doubled the company’s production capacity.

Fortifi is dedicated to helping food producers work smarter through innovative technology and expert support. In this podcast, we explore how data-driven solutions are transforming food processing by improving operational insights, reducing reliance on manual labor, enhancing workplace safety, elevating product quality, and driving stronger business performance. Join us as we discuss industry trends, practical strategies, and the innovations shaping the future of food production.

Massimo Bizzi is a global business executive with 25 years of experience and a track record in leading multinational organizations.

Sponsored by Fortifi

Dharma Prime, senior controls engineer for Concept Systems, discusses her college experience, her interest in controls engineering, and the importance of mentoring in honor of International Women in Engineering Day.Check out our full story: Engineering Change: Discovering the Impact of Women Engineers in Food Manufacturing

Halak Mehta, reliability engineer for Sapporo-Stone Brewing, covers her experience in the food industry, the importance of taking on high-stakes projects, and developing a growth mindset in honor of International Women in Engineering Day.

Check out our full story: Engineering Change: Discovering the Impact of Women Engineers in Food Manufacturing

In this episode, Bonna Cannon, president, owner and principal consultant of Bonnafide LLC, discusses how to prioritize true food safety over audit preparation, turning audit insights into operational improvements and building food safety into plant design.

Sponsored by Fortrex

Explore how inspection and detection have evolved over 30 years, and how Fortress Technology is defining the next standard in food safety through automated testing and data-driven performance, helping food manufacturers improve consistency, compliance and confidence in modern production environments.

Sponsored by Fortress Technology:

Kim Lovan, associate vice president, food, beverage and agribusiness, and Carrie Woehler, solutions lead, industrial and manufacturing for Black & Veatch, discuss how food and beverage manufacturers are implementing automation, considerations for vetting solution providers, and how automation projects have evolved.

Andrew Johnston, vice president and general manager, industrials, for Divert, Inc, discusses where food waste appears in food manufacturing, the role of anaerobic digestion, and how to build a culture of waste reduction.