SALISBURY, Md. — Perdue Farms recently brought together more than 100 farmers, retail and foodservice customers, animal welfare advocates, scientists, sustainability leaders, and other food and agriculture stakeholders for its 11th annual Animal Care and Sustainability Summit.
The event marked the first time the company formally brought the two topics together in one program, reflecting the increasingly connected role they play in responsible food production and long-term agricultural resilience, Perdue noted in its announcement.
The Summit also served as the launch platform for Perdue’s 11th annual Animal Care Report, which highlights progress across 121 animal care initiatives completed since 2016 and outlines priorities for continued improvement. Together, the Summit and the report underscore Perdue’s commitment to advancing animal welfare, supporting farmers and driving transparency through science, innovation and collaboration, the company said.
The two-day event combined firsthand farm experiences with expert presentations and candid discussions focused on some of agriculture’s most important opportunities and challenges, Perdue noted. Participants explored where animal welfare and environmental stewardship naturally align, where tradeoffs remain and how practical solutions can help strengthen both.
“Bringing animal care and sustainability together reflects how we think about stewardship and the future of responsible food production,” Kevin McAdams, Perdue Farms CEO, said in the release. “The challenges facing food and agriculture do not have simple answers. Earning consumer trust requires us to listen to the people closest to the work, be transparent about what we are learning and work across the food system to find practical solutions.”
The Summit began with a visit to a farm near Georgetown, Del., where farmers and experts demonstrated work underway across Perdue’s supply chain. Topics included regenerative agriculture and soil health, emerging technologies that help farmers collect and use field data, pollinator habitat and biodiversity, pasture-raised poultry, responsible pork and beef production, and the independent verification behind Perdue’s USDA Process Verified Program for poultry care.
The second day focused on the science, experiences and partnerships shaping the future of food and agriculture. Conversations included antimicrobial resistance and the broader One Health connection among animals, people and the environment, lessons from Perdue’s No Antibiotics Ever journey, firsthand perspectives from farmers and ranchers, and the relationship between animal welfare, environmental performance and resilient food systems, the company added.
Animal Care Report 2026 highlights priorities
Released during the Summit, Perdue’s 2026 Animal Care Report details progress this past year and the company’s priorities for continued improvement. Since launching its Commitments to Animal Care program in 2016, Perdue has undertaken 121 initiatives designed to address the Five Freedoms or one of the program’s other pillars: meeting chickens’ needs and wants, strengthening farmer relationships, building openness and trust, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Highlights from the new report include:
- Research and on-farm trials involving blue lighting, elevated enrichments and transportation practices designed to support bird comfort and natural behaviors.
- Continued expansion of controlled atmosphere stunning, with Perdue’s third chicken system expected to begin operating at its Cromwell, Ky., facility by the end of 2026.
- Continued investment in the Best in Care Animal Welfare Certification Program. All 48 Poultry Care Officers were certified in 2025, and 17 officers had reached the program’s highest tier as of July 2026.
- Ongoing transparency through independent audits, third-party video monitoring and farm and facility tours. Perdue hosted 112 tours in 2025, exceeding its annual goal of 100, and had hosted 88 tours through July 2026.
The 2026 Animal Care Report is available here. And to learn more about Perdue’s ongoing commitment to animal, visit https://corporate.perduefarms.com/responsibility/animal-care.
