The growth of quality meat production together with the conservation of natural resources and the generation of mechanisms of social inclusion in Uruguay were central themes in the opening address of Dr. Fabio Montossi, Chair of the ICOMST 2014 Organizing Committee from INIA at the opening of the International Congress for Meat Science and Technology this week.
Dr Montossi said they were a source of pride for the private and public organisations that are part of the meat production chain at a national level.
Dr Montossi, in his role as Chair of the Organizing Committee, stressed how Uruguay, by participating in ICOMST since the year 2001, was chosen as the Congress venue with the votes of 30 participating countries in the 2009 Congress.
He also explained that the Congress topics-areas of interest and those in need of improvement- were defined by means of a survey among the participants of former editions.
Finally, Montossi explained that the Congress was organized by creating five committees that resulted in this ICOMST, achieving the participation of 440 attendees from 37 countries and the presence of 25 representatives from national and international media.
Both the organising institutions and the national authorities emphasised the relevance of this Congress, not only from the point of view of technical exchanges but also as a venue to generate significant relationships regarding the growth of the research agenda in the meat chain at the national level.
The 60th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICOMST) in Punta del Est, Uruguay is organised by the National Institute of Meat (INAC), the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) and the Uruguayan Association of Animal Production (AUPA).
The opening and welcome speeches were delivered by: Ms. Susana Hernandez, Mayor of Maldonado; Dr. Fabio Montossi, Chair of the ICOMST 2014 Organizing Committee from INIA; Dr. Alvaro Roel, Chairman of INIA; Mr. Alfredo Fratti, Chairman of INAC; Mr. Gabriel Murara, CEO of LATU; Dr. Ali Saadoun, Chairman of AUPA and Mr. Tabare Aguerre (Agricultural Engineer), Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries.
In their inaugural speeches the authorities emphasized the professionalism, effort and dedication of the working teams of the organizing institutions, as well as the significance of the ministerial and national support given to ICOMST 2014.
Mention of the advances and investment in technology and innovation made by Uruguay at an inter-institutional level to generate a country product based on sustainable production was also made.
