DPI livestock systems director, Delia Dray, said Dr David Hopkins, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) scientist has been invited to present a paper on the science which backs Australian sheepmeat and lamb production.

"Co-written with DPI research scientist, Dr Sue Mortimer, Sheep quality - effect of breed, genetic type, gender and age on meat quality will be presented by Dr Hopkins along with a case study which illustrates how producers use research to fortify their breeding and production systems," Ms Dray said.

"The paper reviews important factors which impact on meat quality and examines how the dramatic growth in the production of high quality lamb in Australia has been underpinned by solid scientific research."

Ten DPI papers from the Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station and Trangie Agricultural Research Centre have been accepted by the 60th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST) which runs from August 18 to 22. Three doctoral candidates who are supervised by Dr Hopkins will also present papers during the congress. The collaborative work in producing these papers has linked local DPI researchers with a global network of scientists from the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Sydney University, Deakin University, Murdoch University, Charles Sturt University, Monash University, University of Milan - Italy, Otago University - New Zealand, Federal University of Lavras - Brazil and the University of Bayreuth - Germany.

In recognition of the DPI team's contribution, Dr Hopkins will co-chair a session at the ICoMST and sit on a four-member expert panel to provide summary comments on the congress. During his time in Uruguay Dr Hopkins will attend an editorial board meeting for the International Journal Meat Science in his role as chief editor of the journal.

Dr Hopkins will return to Cowra via Nanjing University in China where he is to deliver two guest lectures and explore the potential for future collaborative projects.