The opening of the 71st edition of the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST) on Monday was marked by a keynote lecture on the role of animal production in the sustainability of food systems and another on the effect of geopolitical tensions on meat trade. Hosted this year by IRTA (the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology), the event is the world’s most important scientific meeting in the field of meat and is taking place all week at the Auditori Palau de Congressos in Girona.
In an era where major global issues such as climate change, digitalisation and the international competition for resources are influencing the agenda of food systems, this congress unites around 500 experts from research centres, universities and companies spanning approximately forty countries, with the aim of analysing and shaping the future of the sector.
Under the theme “Real meat, real care,” this year’s edition aims to highlight authentic, high-quality, safe meat produced with respect for animal welfare, the environment, and society. Throughout the week, the programme will explore topics such as the sustainability of meat production, the latest industry trends, the link between animal welfare and product quality, and consumer preferences.
Several local officials attended the opening ceremony of the ICoMST, including Xavier Aldeguer Manté, Girona City Council’s fourth deputy mayor for Talent, Innovation, Health, and Community, and Gemma Geis i Carreras, Girona Provincial Council’s second vice-president. Also present was IRTA’s director general, Josep Usall i Rodié, who emphasized that “the meat sector faces the challenge of preserving tradition while also researching and innovating for a sustainable future.”
Usall also emphasised IRTA’s long-standing commitment to meat research and innovation, which has been closely connected to the region and the industry since its foundation forty years ago.
‘At IRTA, we work to ensure the production of safe, high-quality, sustainable meat. We study everything from animal genetics and nutrition to advanced meat classification technologies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on livestock farms, as well as the production of biogas. We are also strongly committed to animal welfare and aim to demonstrate its positive impact on meat quality,” he explained.
Maria Font, the congress president and a researcher in the Food Quality and Technology programme at IRTA, added that over 350 scientific presentations and two industry connection sessions will take place during the week. “On Wednesday, we’ll leave the conference hall to visit several Catalan meat companies and share the local culture and heritage with our colleagues from around the world,” she said.
The opening keynote was delivered by Louise Fresco, a former Assistant Director-General of the FAO and current member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Ms Fresco emphasised the crucial role of meat in human evolution, noting that its consumption contributed to brain development and that hunting fostered collaboration. She also highlighted the nutritional importance of meat for groups such as pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and the elderly.
According to Fresco, key challenges for the meat sector include halting deforestation for animal feed production, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing animal welfare, and maximizing the use of animal-derived products. “We can’t generalize how meat is produced around the world, but one basic rule is optimizing resources,” she said, adding that digitalization offers great potential. She also stressed that circular economy discussions must include animals.
IRTA researcher Ricard Bou also spoke about the utilisation of less frequently consumed meat by-products, such as brains, livers and kidneys, which can be processed for use in the biomedical, pharmaceutical and food or feed industries. He highlighted collagen as a prime example, as it is widely used to produce biomaterials.
Jorge Correa, a researcher at the Canadian Meat Council, also participated in the opening session. He discussed the challenges facing the global meat trade, including the impact of geopolitical tensions and wars. He noted that the meat market is valued at $1.45 trillion and employs 2.2 million people, but stressed that labour remains a major challenge: 'We need workers, but the meat industry isn’t seen as an attractive prospect.' Social perceptions of meat production and consumption were indeed a focal point of the questions posed to Fresco and Correa, and this issue will continue to be addressed throughout the congress.
On Friday, the ICoMST will conclude with a roundtable discussion on the future of the meat sector and research. The discussion will feature representatives from the Dublin Declaration and the Denver Call to Action, initiatives that advocate for sustainable livestock farming and the societal role of livestock. The representatives will call on governments to base their decisions on sound scientific evidence.
