Technology in the meat industry tends to be cyclic. Over a period of three to five years, that innovation disseminates through the meat industry and is adopted by the leading meat and poultry processors. Technology naturally starts with the very largest processors, where there is the most opportunity for profit and impact. From there, that technology is scaled downward and is made available for the rest of the industry.
For the sausage industry, there are some elements that can be scaled downward, and there are some that cannot, explains Dr. Jeff Sindelar, associate professor and extension meat specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.