More than 100 agriculture students and young industry professionals gathered in Rockhampton for four days of meat science education, beef industry insights, and professional development at the 2022 ICMJ Northern Conference.
Participants took part in a variety of sessions hosted by Teys Australia and CQUniversity at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) to improve their understanding of the northern beef industry supply chain, develop their meat judging abilities, and explore the career opportunities available in the beef industry.
The programme, according to ICMJ Northern Committee Chair and Teys Australia's Ethan Mooney, was intended to give participants a leg up on a future career in the red meat sector.
"Participants are hearing directly from people like Mark Davie, Chair of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework, about the industry's future direction in terms of economic resilience, animal husbandry techniques, managing climate risk, and rural and regional community prosperity," Mooney said.
"High-level knowledge and understanding, as well as skills in meat cut identification and judging, are critical for future leaders in the red meat sector, and we want to build the expertise of the next generation."
"ICMJ's mission is to inspire and develop future professionals in the global red meat industry, and this event is an important part of that," he explained.
The carcase breakdown by Teys Australia is a highlight of the programme, as is this evening's Career and Trade Expo, where participants can meet and network with some of the beef industry's largest employers.
"The Career and Trade Expo is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to connect with some of the biggest players in the northern beef sector and explore the diverse career paths available," Mooney said.
The programme continued for two days with practical hands-on workshops, an abattoir tour, and the Teys Australia meat judging competition, culminating on Saturday evening with the NH Foods Gala Dinner at the Rockhampton Customs House.
The conference provided an opportunity for top meat judging competitors to be chosen to participate in the 2023 ICMJ South-East Asia Tour.
Teys Australia and CQUniversity, as well as NH Foods Australia, Advance Rockhampton, JBS, Beef Australia, Signature Beef, Herefords Australia, Australian Brahman Breeders Association, and Allflex, are proud sponsors of the 2022 ICMJ Northern Conference.
It is one of ICMJ's two major conferences held each year, with the 2022 ICMJ National Conference scheduled for July 5-9 in Wagga Wagga. Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Meat Processing Corporation are the ICMJ's founding partners (AMPC).
