Kloe Soper, Tom West, Cosmo Routley and Hugh Bailey from the University of Melbourne ICMJ Team.

MORE than 300 university students and industry delegates from across the country have gathered in Wagga Wagga this week for the National Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) Conference.

Over the next four days, aspiring agriculturists will hear from presenters on the science behind eating quality, the market trends shaping the future of beef, sheep and goatmeat, what the science and genetics are revealing about the potential of goatmeat, as well as an overview of the Japanese beef industry and why the Unites States relies on Aussie beef, lamb and goatmeat.

The university teams will also compete in beef, lamb and pork carcase competitions, with winners announced Saturday night.

UNE Professor of Meat Science and ICMJ President, Peter McGilchrist said whilst it is a competition, the real value of ICMJ comes from the connections made.

“This is your cohort in agriculture. You will all go to different places and have different careers, but this is your cohort who you will work alongside,” he said.

“Agriculture is a small world, so meeting as many people as you can this week as connections is what this is really about.”

• The ICMJ conference will feature in this week’s episode of The Week in Beef podcast, released Thursday afternoon.
• More stories from the conference proceedings later this week

UNE Professor of Meat Science and ICMJ President, Peter McGilchrist welcomes participants to the 2026 ICMJ Conference in Wagga Wagga.

Chloe Paul, James Cook University; Riley Semmens, Charles Sturt University; Jake Turner, CSU; Olive Patten, JCU.

Emily Nott, Chloe Fenwicke, Katie Stenzel, Ellah Harvey and Winifred Laurie from the University of New England ICMJ Team.

Molly Smith, Max Ruddle and Nicholas Blersch from the University of Queensland ICMJ Team.

Tobey Jeffrey, Harry Chisholm and Andrew White from the University of Melbourne.

Hannah Kermode and Sienna Doolan from Meat and Livestock Australia with Melanie Smith, ICMJ Committee.