About the Research Program
Around the world, beef consumers demand high-quality, safe and nutritious products. As protein choices continue to expand, beef safety and nutrition research are key to ensuring that both domestic and foreign beef consumers have confidence in their purchasing decisions. The only way to maintain and grow this confidence is through strong and effective science-based communication. Beef Checkoff-funded research programs have been used to respond to industry, media and regulatory inquiries, as well as influencer and consumer concerns, by showcasing the beef industry’s commitment to science-based information and consumer education.
Contractors With Projects Funded Under Research
Meat Foundation (MF)
MF conducts post-harvest beef safety research and science-based research on processed beef’s nutritional and health benefits. Fiscal Year 2027 initiatives include:
- Fund high-priority beef safety research addressing foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), as well as emerging contamination risks and food safety challenges.
- Conduct a competitive research selection process, guided by industry and scientific experts, to identify and fund approximately one to two projects annually that address critical gaps in beef safety knowledge.
- Share Checkoff-funded research findings with scientists, regulatory agencies and food safety decision-makers through peer-reviewed publications, scientific conferences, technical presentations and targeted outreach.
- Develop practical resources, including webinars, workshops, technical briefs and guidance materials, to help beef processors and food safety professionals understand and apply research findings to improve beef safety practices.
2027 Funding: $750,000
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)
NCBA works alongside universities and institutions to conduct high-quality scientific research on beef’s nutritional benefits, pre-harvest research, product quality and technical expertise, sustainability research and consumer market research. Fiscal Year 2027 initiatives include:
- Fund beef safety research examining cattle production and management practices, pathogen control, foreign material and other potential hazards to identify ways to reduce food safety risks before cattle enter the processing system.
- Conduct human nutrition research examining beef’s role in healthy diets, including how its protein and essential nutrients influence metabolic health, growth and development, heart health and healthy aging.
- Advance beef product quality and sustainability research to evaluate carcass characteristics, grading systems, eating quality, animal welfare, water use and the environmental and economic impacts of cattle production.
- Monitor consumer attitudes, purchasing behaviors and emerging trends through the Consumer Beef Tracker, retail and foodservice data, and targeted research to inform national and state Beef Checkoff marketing and education programs.
2027 Funding: $8,250,000
United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA)/Kansas State University (KSU)
The Meat Demand Monitor (MDM) tracks monthly U.S. Consumer preferences, views and demand for meat with separate analysis for retail and food service channels. Fiscal Year 2027 initiatives include:
- Continue the Meat Demand Monitor (MDM) project, conducting monthly surveys of more than 3,000 U.S. consumers to track meat demand, consumption patterns and purchasing preferences across grocery stores and restaurants.
- Publish monthly Meat Demand Monitor reports and in-depth analyses examining consumer willingness to pay, purchasing decisions, dietary trends and emerging topics affecting beef demand.
- Maintain and enhance the interactive state-level Meat Demand Monitor dashboard, providing state beef councils and industry stakeholders with accessible data on regional meat consumption, demand and consumer preferences.
- Share research findings through media interviews, industry presentations, social media and publicly available reports to help producers, beef industry stakeholders and decision-makers better understand domestic beef demand.
2026-2027 Funding: $650,000
United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA)/Duke University/University of Florida
USCA is partnering with Duke University and the University of Florida on the Beef and Metabolic Health Program. Led by Dr. Eric Westman of Duke University and Dr. Angelica Ahrens of the University of Florida, this research initiative will examine the role of beef in therapeutic, low-carbohydrate diets for adults with advanced type 2 diabetes. Through clinical research and consumer education, the program aims to generate scientific evidence that helps healthcare professionals and consumers make more informed dietary decisions. Fiscal Year 2027 initiatives include:
- Conduct a randomized clinical trial evaluating how a beef-forward, carbohydrate-restricted diet affects metabolic health, blood sugar management, medication use and quality of life in adults with advanced type 2 diabetes.
- Evaluate whether increasing adherence to a more restrictive, beef-centered dietary approach can improve health outcomes for participants who experience limited progress with the initial intervention.
- Study the long-term sustainability of beef-forward dietary approaches, including participants’ ability to maintain dietary changes, improvements in metabolic health and changes in beef purchasing behavior over time.
- Develop educational resources and outreach programs to share clinical research findings with healthcare professionals and consumers, while evaluating how science-based nutrition information influences consumer confidence, dietary choices and purchasing behavior.
2027 Funding: $598,000
