The 69th edition of the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology – ICoMST, the prestigious event hosted by Padua Congress that brings together the world’s leading experts in the field of meat and cured meat science, is proving a success.
The event, chaired by Professor Antonella Dalle Zotte of the Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS) at the University of Padua, which runs until Friday 25 August, has attracted over 600 delegates from 44 different countries to the city, who have come together to analyse the latest discoveries and innovative perspectives in this crucial field. The annual congress – held in alternate years in Europe and other continents – returns to Italy after 21 years, the last time it was held at the FAO headquarters in Rome.
“We are receiving extremely positive feedback,” explains Prof. Dalle Zotte, “both on the quality of the scientific programme and on the structure: many have complimented us on the beauty and functionality of the Padua Congress spaces, which surprised many congress participants. I graduated in Padua and I have carried out all my academic activity here: I am therefore particularly proud to host the ICoMST congress in Padua, the seat of one of the most prestigious and ancient universities in the world, and to reap the fruits of a shared pathway that started 7 years ago’.
Agenda
The five intense days of work, which also saw a significant presence of researchers under 32, an impressive 149 of them, focused on issues of primary importance, from nutritional implications to environmental impacts. Among the highlights of the 5-day conference was a round table dedicated to the future of meat, including advances in ‘cellular meat’, starting with the Dublin Declaration, a document signed by more than 1,000 scientists from around the world, aimed at providing reliable evidence on the importance of the role of livestock farming for the environment, human health, the economy and society. In a context of interdisciplinary exchange, experts from all over the world addressed the ethical, nutritional and sustainable implications of these new frontiers.
The scientific appointments and technical tours in the North-Eastern Italy and Emilia region offered on Wednesday were accompanied by networking moments, from the welcome aperitif to the barbecue in Milchovic Park, from the dinner under the stars in the heart of the city in Piazza delle Erbe to the concluding gala dinner held on Thursday evening in Hall 11. The organisational secretariat was taken care of by the Sistema Congressi company.
