20: Food Industry 2026: The Race Between Labor, AI and Automation

Expert Roundtable · 2026 Factory Priorities Is your factory ready for the transformation ahead?The food industry is shifting fast. Labor gaps, accelerating automation, and the rise of AI are reshaping how factories operate.In this special episode of Behind Clean Lines, three industry experts break down the forces redefining food manufacturing in 2026 - and what it will take to stay competitive in a landscape where technology and human expertise must work hand‑in‑hand.In this special roundtable episode of Behind Clean Lines, we bring together three industry experts from different corners of the food sector:Richard Smith – Managing Director, NewTech Intelligent Automation (machine builder perspective)Jennifer Crandall – Founder & CEO, Safe Food En Route (food safety consultancy + cross-industry view)Carl Thorson – Food Safety & Sanitation Manager, General Mills (large-scale food producer perspective)Together, they explore the converging forces reshaping food manufacturing in 2026 and beyond; from the factory floor challenges of training workers who aren't there, to the promise and reality of AI-powered automation, to the counterintuitive revolution happening in sanitation practices.For food manufacturers, the message is clear: the winners in 2026 won't be those with the most technology, but those who strategically navigate the balance between human expertise and technological capability.In this episode, you'll learn:Why labor shortages are the defining challenge, and how micro-learning and wearables are changing training.Where automation is finally becoming viable in fresh food production (and where it's still years away).How AI is tackling the "black box" of equipment changeovers and planned downtime.The counterintuitive "cleaning by exception" philosophy reducing water use while improving safety.What "food as medicine" means for formulation, equipment, and regulatory compliance.Why all three experts agree AI is the universal disruptor—and why implementation will be gradual.Episode Content00:36 Introduction to food industry trends for 202602:49 The labor availability crisis: More than just empty positions07:31 YouTube and TikTok-style training: Learning tools for the modern workforce13:21 Technology advances opening up fresh food automation17:05 Manual activities and the black box of equipment downtime20:06 Imagining the food plant of 2030: Lights on or off?24:07 The reality: Many companies are still on paper30:25 Using visual assessment to reduce human error38:06 UK and EU cybersecurity directives for machinery44:43 Food as medicine: Consumer trends reshaping production53:40 Cleaning by exception: The counterintuitive sanitation philosophy58:33 The one disruptor defining 2026: Artificial intelligence This podcast is brought to you by NGI A/S.This podcast is produced by Montanus.