Meat Scientists from around the world gathered in Girona, Spain, for the 2025 International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST). Under the theme "Real Meat, Real Care", the meeting showcased meat's value as a natural, nutritious food and the sector's work to preserve tradition while driving innovation for a sustainable future.

More than 50 AMSA members and nearly 500 delegates from around the world participated in the 71st International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST), hosted last week by IRTA in Girona, Spain. Led by Maria Font i Furnols and Pere Gou, the event featured keynotes, posters, and experiences highlighting the region’s traditional meat products.

AMSA members including Frederic Leroy, Keith Belk, Brandon Fields, and Collette Kaster helped kick off the week at the Graduate Student Short Course led by Cristina Zomeño. Other AMSA participants—Jerrad Legako, Kadie Graves, and Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan—contributed as speakers and session chairs in areas such as muscle biology, sustainability, animal welfare, and food safety.

The meeting concluded with updates from the group convening biennially on the Societal Role of Meat. This year, they partnered with the Graduate Student Short Course, where students presented strategies for ensuring scientific information is part of the public conversation on meat-related issues. Their thoughtful statements sparked meaningful discussion and are being compiled for future sharing.

We look forward to the next ICoMST, to be held August 9–14, 2026, in Daejeon, Korea.