National Beef Quality Audit-2022 Phase 1: face-to-face and digital interviews

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Food Science
• Animal Science

Background:

• The National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) has benchmarked U.S. beef quality since 1991.
• The 2022 NBQA aimed to identify management needs for improving beef quality and demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate critical factors influencing beef quality and demand.
• To assess industry perceptions of quality, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Main Methods:

• 130 interviews were conducted with industry stakeholders (packers, retailers, processors, foodservice, government agencies).
• Interviews utilized routing software and covered quality criteria, SWOT analysis, and sustainability goals.

Main Results:

• Food safety emerged as the most important factor, now considered a market expectation rather than a purchasing criterion.
• Eating quality was identified as a key strength, with opportunities in consumer and producer education.
• Environmental concerns were noted as a major threat across all market sectors.

Conclusions:

• The U.S. beef industry's image has improved since 2016.
• Continuous assessment of quality factors and industry perceptions is crucial for sustained demand and improvement.