8 Takeaways from IPPE 2025: Poultry Innovation, Food Defense, and HPAI

There was no shortage of innovation at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) 2025. Themes like automation, food safety, and data quality took the spotlight.

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The industry faces regulatory uncertainty, threats of an HPAI epidemic, and global supply chain disruptions. This year, technology and data won the show.

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Ancera was at the center of these conversations, debuting the Apollo Food Defense System, presenting insights on Salmonella monitoring, automation, and pathogen testing. If that wasn’t enough, we also unveiled Precision Downtime, a new approach to managing downtime that will maximize resource efficiency and farm productivity.

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Let's dive in to our biggest takeaways from IPPE.

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1. Automation is Moving In

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Automation is nothing new in other supply chain-dependent industries, but poultry has experienced a lag time in using this solution to reduce labor dependency, increase efficiency, and improve precision in food safety and operational oversight... until now.

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Better late than never, automation is making its way into poultry processing. Robotics, machine learning, and automated food defense systems are leading the charge.

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One of the biggest highlights from IPPE was Ancera’s Apollo Food Defense System, which was featured in WATT Poultry Chat’s IPPE video coverage. In a conversation with WATT Content Director Terrence O’Keefe, Ancera development engineer Zoe Moscato answered questions about Ancera's new on-site, fully automated lab.

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“Apollo eliminates testing delays by replacing off-site lab dependency with containerized, automated systems deployed close to poultry plants.” – Zoe Moscato, Development Engineer at Ancera

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By automating up to 75% of microbial testing steps, Apollo is improving accuracy, reducing variability, and delivering faster results. This will give poultry processors a powerful edge in food safety, compliance, and predictability.

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Ready to launch? Get a personalized demo of Apollo today.

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2. Food Safety is a Serious Priority in 2025

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With USDA’s evolving and uncertain Salmonella regulations, food safety remains a top concern for poultry producers. IPPE featured in-depth discussions on compliance strategies, risk mitigation, and the role of automation in achieving regulatory readiness.

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WATT Poultry hosted a panel discussion on Salmonella featuring four industry experts:

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• Elizabeth Krushinskie, DVM and Ph.D., senior technical advisor and owner, Food Safety Risk Management Consulting LLC
• Kalen Cookson, DVM, MAM, DACPV, director of clinical research, Zoetis
• Bill Potter, Ph.D., poultry food safety and processing extension, University of Arkansas
• Arjun Ganesan, CEO, Ancera

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The WATT Salmonella panel fostered a discussion on control, mitigation, and bird health. A few headlines:

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• The need for wholistic supply chain involvement
• The importance of identifying effective interventions
• The role of vaccinations and data-driven strategies

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It's clear that we are in a time of heightened safety concerns and tightened margins. The industry requires faster, better pathogen detection to stay ahead of these threats. When processors have the tools they need to detect risks before they escalate, they can protect their regulatory reporting and ultimately their bottom line.

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3. Data is the Future

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Traditional decision making in poultry production is being replaced by data, real-time tracking, and predictive modeling. There is a growing – long overdue – demand for quality, actionable data in order to optimize operations, send more pounds to the plant, and maximize resource efficiency.

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Ancera’s Precision Downtime is a prime example of how data-driven intelligence can improve live operations.

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Fixed downtime schedules are costing poultry producers millions in lost productivity and inefficiencies. With Ancera’s food defense platform, complexes can customize downtime for each flock, avoiding unnecessary delays and improving profitability.

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Right now, a small bird complex using Precision Downtime is on track to generate $4.31 million in additional profits this year through optimized downtime scheduling.

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By replacing a “one-size-fits-all” approach downtime schedules with real-time microbial analysis, poultry producers can reduce unnecessary treatment costs, improve feed conversion ratios, and lower mortality rates.

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Learn more about Precision Downtime.

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4. Avian Influenza is Reshaping Biosecurity Strategies

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Avian Influenza (HPAI) remains one of the biggest ongoing challenges in poultry, requiring enhanced biosecurity measures and faster response times. Poultry producers already know, this costs time and money. Discussions at IPPE focused on how new strategies, including AI-powered surveillance and on-site rapid detection, can help mitigate outbreaks.

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The U.S. Senate recently confirmed Brooke Rollins as USDA Secretary, signaling potential policy shifts. The National Chicken Council said in a statement that it supports her stance on reducing regulatory burdens, addressing HPAI export concerns, and opposing costly Salmonella regulations.

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The industry is moving toward more proactive biosecurity protocols that include real-time data monitoring and predictive modeling. Automated pathogen detection is helping poultry producers detect and respond to disease threats faster than ever before. Stronger vaccination programs and new disease mitigation technologies were key topics of conversation at IPPE, as producers look to balance costs with long-term biosecurity investments.

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With the economic impact of HPAI reaching billions in losses annually, producers must continue leveraging technology to stay ahead of disease outbreaks.

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5. Supply Chain Resilience Remains a Challenge

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The poultry industry continues to face disruptions from global logistics issues, disease outbreaks, and regulatory shifts. At IPPE 2025, experts discussed the growing importance of real-time supply chain monitoring and risk mitigation strategies.

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Companies are investing in new tools to improve transparency and prevent costly disruptions. Localized, on-site testing is emerging as a key solution for reducing supply chain delays caused by pathogen detection bottlenecks.

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Industry leaders who embrace data-driven risk assessment tools are better positioned to maintain stability and profitability despite ongoing global uncertainties.

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6. The Rise of On-Site Testing Solutions

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For Ancera, we spent a lot of time at IPPE talking about on-site pathogen detection. Dependence on off-site lab testing causes inherent shipping delays, and therefore, delayed results and less effective data. Ancera’s Apollo Food Defense System was at IPPE, with lab engineers providing demonstrations of the fully automated, containerized lab that delivers faster, more reliable results.

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Unlike traditional testing methods that require samples to be shipped overnight, Apollo enables real-time data collection within an hour of processing. The ability to detect risks earlier and act faster will give poultry processors greater control over food safety and compliance, reducing risk and increasing operational efficiency.

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With faster turnaround times, improved accuracy, and seamless integration into existing workflows, on-site testing is proving to be a game-changer for modern poultry production.

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7. The Cost vs. Compliance Debate is Heating Up

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It's the understatement of the year to say that the regulatory landscape is uncertain. Poultry companies are evaluating the financial trade-offs between compliance and operational costs. IPPE discussions included:

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• The hidden costs of non-compliance, including recalls, legal risks, and lost consumer trust.

• How AI-driven food safety solutions like Apollo help processors meet regulations while improving efficiency.

• Why proactive investments in automation can drive profitability, rather than just compliance.

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Companies are changing their perspective on compliance. It's not a regulatory requirement or budget expense. When implemented correctly, it can be an operational advantage that nets millions in unrecognized profits.

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8. Industry Leaders are Collaborating to Get Ahead

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Beyond the trade show floor, IPPE 2025 was about building connections. The most scenic highlight of the week was Ancera’s exclusive networking event at the Georgia Aquarium.

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Industry leaders, partners, and media gathered to discuss automation, data-driven food defense, and the future of poultry production. The event provided an opportunity to foster collaboration, share insights, and strengthen partnerships in a relaxed, engaging environment.

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Ancera's mission has always been to bring together the brightest minds in poultry, facilitate critical conversations, and then lead the charge to make the industry safer and more profitable.

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Ancera at IPPE

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Our key takeaway from IPPE 2025? Automation + data = profit.

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Companies that embrace real-time data, predictive analytics, and precision-driven solutions will be best positioned for compliance, profitability, and long-term success in an increasingly complex industry.

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Ready to see innovation in action? Connect with Ancera to see what a modern food defense strategy looks like in your operation.

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