Meat & Livestock News

World Meat Congress Focuses on Sustainability and Global Collaboration

Image of a half beef chunks fresh hung and arranged in a row in a large fridge in the fridge meat industry.

After a hiatus of five years, the World Meat Congress recently reconvened in Maastricht, Netherlands. Organised by the International Meat Secretariat (IMS), the event was attended by key stakeholders in the global meat industry, including the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Erin Borror, USMEF Vice President of Economic Analysis and co-chair of the IMS economics committee, emphasised the importance of a unified global voice in the meat industry.

She highlighted the role of IMS in collaborating with international organisations such as the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the Codex, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

The congress primarily focused on sustainability issues, according to reports from USMEF. Topics such as animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, and the need for science-based standards in animal health were discussed. Borror noted that collaboration with WOAH and the Codex has been crucial in establishing food safety standards.

Borror further stated that such collaborative efforts are invaluable, especially when dealing with global challenges like UN-led initiatives on emissions. She believes that a united and vocal meat industry can make a significant impact on a global scale.