Fresh pork consumption is changing, especially among younger generations. In this episode of MeatsPad, Dr. Phil Bass and Sharon Beals sit down with Dr. Anna Dilger to explore what those changes mean for the pork industry and why understanding consumers may be just as important as understanding the science behind the product.
Dr. Dilger shares how Gen Z and millennials approach meals and protein differently, and why the industry may need to rethink everything from product formats to the way pork is presented and marketed. Instead of simply telling consumers how they should prepare pork, she argues that the industry needs to spend more time listening to what people actually want.
The conversation also dives into Dr. Dilger’s career in meat science, her work in pork quality and muscle biology, and one of her most memorable research projects: a gene-editing experiment involving myostatin knockout pigs that ultimately failed. For Dr. Dilger, those failures are an important part of science and often create some of the most valuable opportunities to learn.
From research and consumer behavior to leadership, teaching, and the power of enthusiasm, this episode offers a wide-ranging look at the people and ideas shaping the future of meat science.
This episode of MeatsPad was produced in collaboration with the Women’s Meat Industry Network (WMIN).
