SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Meat Alternative Trends and Technology - May 2022 - 13

production facilities in the United States, which
will break ground in the next year.
" I was really excited about the opportunity to
be part of something that is so future oriented;
that is not just about today. And it's not even
about next week, but it is really about six months
from now, a year from now and two years from
now - and then also 10 years from now, " she said.
" It's a whole new way of working for somebody
[like me] who's used to working in the really
urgent, 'now' of the animal protein business. I
love that aspect of it.
" I love the idea that the work we're doing will
pay dividends for generations to come, " she said,
" that we're laying a foundation for entire new
ways of producing food for people around the
world, and that those technologies and products
will find uses that we can only dream of today.
It is an exciting time to be a part of the Future
Meat team. "
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
After graduating from college, Johnson-Hoffman
went on to complete law school in 1998. But
beyond that, she didn't have a concrete plan of
what would come next.
" I didn't have a really clear vision for what I
would do after law school, " she said.
Fortunately, she was recruited by Cargill
to join its in-house law department while still
attending law school and began her career there
after graduating.
" I knew that I wanted to study law, I loved it. I
loved law school and I loved being an attorney. "
She went on to work in the company's financial
services business before transitioning to
operations in 2008, working as the general manager
at Cargill's Fort Morgan, Colo. beef plant,
a progression that likely surprised many of her
industry contemporaries.
" I'm a good example of somebody who benefited
from a company's willingness to develop
people across multiple job skills and allow people
to have varied careers that really allow you to
learn the broad base of the business. "
Making the transition from a corporate role
to working in the trenches at a high-volume beef
plant was not a traditional career progression.
" I think the people who knew me well did not
find it terribly surprising that I would be up for
some kind of new challenge like that, " JohnsonHoffman
said. " And the people who knew Cargill
well knew that Cargill was interested in diverse
talent and was interested in non-traditional
career paths. But to observers outside of Cargill
maybe more traditional industry participants or
to people who didn't know me well, I think it
was a real jaw dropper. "
" It was thrilling, " she added. " I loved working
in the factory in Colorado, the opportunity
to run a beef plant is something that I still can't
believe Cargill granted me. It was a fantastic
group of people who were passionately engaged
in the work they did and who were doing their
best to make a great place to work and to produce
really high quality, safe food in conditions
that can be extremely challenging. "
While still working at Cargill, she became
involved in the Global Roundtable for
Sustainable Beef (GRSB), serving on its board
beginning in 2013 and continuing in that role for
eight years. She also served as an early leader of
the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, serving
as the founding chairperson in 2015.
Sustainability and transparency were priorities
for Cargill and Johnson-Hoffman
carried that torch for her company
and for the entire beef industry. She
said the efforts of the GRSB and its
US-based faction has shifted the mindset
of industry stakeholders.
Oprah opportunity
During Nicole Johnson-Hoffman's three-year tenure leading
Cargill's Fort Morgan, Colo. plant, one of the more memorable
events transpired after producers from the " The Oprah Winfrey
Show " show called the company requesting a tour of the plant
to be used on the air and explain how the company ensures
food safety and animal welfare in the production of its ground
beef. Veteran reporter, Lisa Ling, ultimately toured the plant with
Johnson-Hoffman as part of a story segment that aired on the
show in 2011. Johnson-Hoffman also went on the show as part
of a panel discussion about modern-day agribusiness and was
heralded by Cargill for representing the company and the beef
industry in a truthful and positive light.
" People still remember the program and recognize me [from
being on Oprah Winfrey's show], which I can't quite believe, "
she said in a 2016 interview with MEAT+POULTRY. " I guess what
I take away from that is that beef processing plants are fascinating
places. The work done in those plants is really inherently interesting.
I believe in my heart that the program was memorable
because the Cargill plant in Fort Morgan is fascinating to see. "
MEAT+POULTRY 2022 MEAT ALTERNATIVE TRENDS + TECHNOLOGY
13
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Meat Alternative Trends and Technology - May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Meat Alternative Trends and Technology - May 2022
