Rendering Firms Tackle Talent Shortage at Nashville Seminar
Industry leaders at the 2026 USPOULTRY Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar discussed recruitment, traceability and workplace safety for rendering operations.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Agriculture
The 2026 USPOULTRY Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee, presented strategies for rendering operations. Speakers addressed employee recruitment and retention, supply chain traceability and workplace safety.
Why it matters
Rendering converts animal byproducts into protein and fat ingredients used in feed and other products, so staffing and supplier verification affect the reliability of that supply. Presenters framed hiring and compliance as ongoing operational priorities for the sector.
Frontline rendering candidates often remain available for fewer than 72 hours, according to seminar presentations. The source does not provide a comparison to prior periods or an underlying sample size.
The players
Darling Ingredients
Darling Ingredients is a major rendering company whose vice president of human resources, Salam Safi, spoke at the seminar.
Association of American Feed Control Officials
The Association of American Feed Control Officials is a national body that develops model feed regulations, led by executive director Austin Therrell.
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is a public research university in Atlanta whose Safety, Health and Environmental Program is directed by Paul Schlumper.
The details
Presenters at the seminar addressed employee recruitment and retention, supply chain traceability and workplace safety for rendering operations. Recommended supplier verification includes risk-based audits and regular review of inspection results, since ingredients with similar names may differ in composition, manufacturing processes and sources.
Timeline
2026: USPOULTRY Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Market Landscape
The seminar is an annual gathering of the poultry protein and fat industry, where rendering operators compare practices on labor and supplier compliance. Its 2026 session in Nashville continues that recurring focus on the inputs that feed the broader animal-ingredient market.
Staffing shortages and supplier verification practices can affect the availability and consistency of rendered ingredients used in feed and other products. Buyers and operators may see these pressures reflected in supply reliability over time.
The takeaway
Hiring speed and supplier verification are practical levers for rendering operations facing tight labor markets and traceability demands. Operators weighing these priorities can review audit frequency and inspection records as part of routine supplier management.
Further reading
For related coverage, see the Agriculture section.
