The Wagyu sector’s annual conference and tour is the largest conference on the beef industry calendar. Organised by the Australian Wagyu Association, it attracts between 400 and 600 attendees annually.
The annual WagyuEdge Conference and Tour is a mecca for the global Wagyu industry. The AWA now has more than 200 international members. Each year, a large contingent of international Wagyu breeders and supply chain representatives attend the conference, like the Wagyu sector’s leading global event.
The conference is an opportunity to bring together all components of the Wagyu sector in a forum of learning and networking to help our industry to advance Wagyu – the World’s Luxury Beef. The Australian Wagyu sector is the leading producer and exporter of Wagyu to international high-end markets. Delegates from Australia can attend to hear speakers with a high level of expertise covering topics in Wagyu production, genetics and marketing.
Note: The WagyuEdge23 program is subject to change.
Registration desk opens 10am
12:00pm LUNCH
CONFERENCE OPENING: Mr Charlie Perry, AWA President
1:00pm
SESSION 1: Tackling Challenges Head On
1:15pm to 2:45pm
1:15pm Why meat is good for you and the planet
Diana Rodgers – Dietitian, Author, Filmmaker & Executive Director at Global Food Justine Alliance
2:00pm Challenges facing red meat production
Professor Paul Wood AO FTSE – Adjunct Professor, Monash University
2:45pm AFTERNOON TEA
SESSION 2: Wagyu Sector Technology Development
3:15pm to 4:30pm
3:15pm New crossbred wagyu prediction tool
Toni Reverter – CSIRO
Jason Lillie – Neogen
4:10pm Wagyu Fellowship: Calf Survival
Lachy Gilmore – Irongate Wagyu
4:30pm END OF DAY ONE SESSIONS
WAGYU BRANDED BEEF COMPETITION TASTING & AWARDS DINNER
Time 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Venue Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf
Dress code Semi-formal
Entertainment Charlie Fittler
The function includes dinner, drinks and entertainment featuring the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition.
Registration desk opens 7.30 am
SESSION 3: Wagyu and Global Market Trends
8.30am to 10.15am
8:30am Global Trends in Agriculture and Luxury Proteins
Liz O’Leary – Executive Director; Head of Agriculture and Natural Assets, Macquarie Asset Management
9:15am Harmony Agriculture Strategy and Direction
Mark Harris – Sales Manager, Stanbroke Beef
9:45am Global Market Place post COVID: Insights, Trends & Opportunities
Scott Cameron – Group Industry Insights and Strategy Manager, Meat and Livestock Australia
10:15am MORNING TEA
SESSION 2: Technology application in the field
11.00am to 12.40pm
11:00am Optimising Reproduction: Measuring the Value of Integrating Fixed Time Artificial Insemination into Heifer Mating Programs and Systematic Premating BVD Control Strategies and A New Potential Novel Resynchrony Methodology
Enoch Bergman – Director/Veterinarian, Swan Vets
11:50am Addressing the Triple Challenge through genetic selection for feed efficiency
Kerryann Kocher – Chief Operating Officer, Vytelle
12:20pm LUNCH
SESSION 3: Facing the challenges of tomorrow
1.25pm to 2:50pm
1:25pm Dairy and Wagyu our future will only get closer with time
Dr David Nation – Managing Director, Dairy Australia
1:55pm Getting up to speed and using all AWA’s tools
Mick Bavea – Woodland Wagyu
2:20pm Does Cow Size Matter in Cow-Calf Production Systems
Dr Kenneth Olson – Professor/Extension Beef Specialist, South Dakota State University, West River Research and Extension Center
2:50pm AFTERNOON TEA
SESSION 4: Opportunities for Wagyu in a carbon future
3:45pm to 5:30pm
3:45pm Harnessing carbon opportunities in the Wagyu supply chain
Dr Stephen Wiedemann – Principal Research Scientist, Integrity Ag & Environment
4:10pm Climate is better on Beef
Frank Mitloehner – Professor and Air Quality Specialist, Director, UC Davis CLEAR Center
4:35pm Carbon Farming for Carbon Trade. A summary of what is available now and into the future
Louisa Keeley – Director, Carbon Farmers of Australia Pty Ltd
5:00pm INDUSTRY PANEL: Wagyu Carbon Neutral 2025
5:30pm END OF DAY ONE SESSIONS
ELITE WAGYU SALE and COCKTAIL DINNER
Time 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Venue The Pullman Albert Park (Ballroom)
Dress code Semi-formal/cocktail
Entertainment Charlie Fittler
The function includes dinner, drinks and entertainment featuring the AWA Elite Wagyu Sale.
Registration desk opens 8.30 am
SESSION 5: The international Wagyu sector perspective
9:00am to 10.45am
9:00am Canadian based Wagyu herd – Wagyu Sekai
Ken Kurosawatsu – Wagyu Sekai
9:40am Wagyu production in New Zealand: Perspectives from Brownrigg Agriculture
Sam Harburg – Consultant, AbacusBio
10:15am The Wyndford Way – Innovation, Excellence and Perfection
Jess Edwards – Wyndford Wagyu
10:45am MORNING TEA
SESSION 6: Current research in Wagyu – new traits and research Directions
11:30am to 1:00pm
11:30am Wagyu Meat Quality Traits
Dr Simone Rochfort – Research Leader Molecular Phenomics, Agriculture Victoria and School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University
12:05pm Nutrition and production of Wagyu in Japan
Dr Keisuke Sasaki – Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Japan
12:40pm Australian wagyu reference population and its importance for genomic selection
Dr Kirsty Moore – Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit
1:15pm LUNCH
SESSION 7: Current research in Wagyu – commercial application of R&D
2:15pm to 4:00pm
2:15pm The Australian flavour story for Wagyu Beef
A/Prof Heather Smyth – Principal Research Fellow, QAAFI, The University of Queensland
2:50pm Ensuring eating quality consistency through Meat Standards Australia
Dr David Packer – MSA Program Manager, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
3:25pm MIJ technology past, present and future
Aaron Van den Heuvel – Carcase Camera Technician, AWA
4:00pm CONFERENCE CLOSE
WagyuEdge GALA DINNER and WAGYU BRANDED BEEF AWARDS
Time 5:00pm – 11.30pm
Venue The Pullman Albert Park (Ballroom)
Dress code Formal
The dinner includes a three-course dinner, drinks and entertainment plus the announcement of the 2022 Wagyu Branded Beef Awards
Winding our way through the ranges of North Eastern Victoria, the post-conference tour will visit three impressive farms – The Falls Pastoral and Stone Axe’s, Cobungra Station and Yulong Investments and nearby wineries including Mitchelton Wines.
Leaving early morning (Friday, 29 April) from The Pullman Melbourne, Albert Park, the tour will conclude approx. 5 pm at Tullamarine Airport Melbourne on Sunday 1 May.
It is very important that you appreciate when viewing the AWA database that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Index values, is based on data supplied by members and/or third parties.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information reported through AWA, AWA officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use or interpretation. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the use by you of the data on this AWA database and the information supplied by ABRI and AGBU being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason.
Regarding EBVs and Index values, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:
Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:
Regarding prefectural content, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:
If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and extent of the data provided on this website or the EBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek independent expert advice.