ADELAIDE will play host to this year's LambEx conference, which promises to tackle a range of pressing issues for the lamb industry. The event will be held at the Adelaide Showgrounds from July 9 to 11. Topics on the agenda include how to tackle the growing market for ethical and sustainable meat and other marketing trends, innovations in processing, new Meat Standards Australia for lamb, wild dogs and dealing with drought. Keynote speakers are UK food marketing professor David Hughes and Meat and Livestock Australia's (MLA) global marketing general manager Michael Edmonds. Both will examine changing consumer preferences and the on-farm production practices needed to meet evolving market requirements. Thomas Food International's Darren Thomas will speak about how producers can capitalise on market opportunities. MLA's Alex Ball will speak about new generation eating quality for lamb and yearling sheepmeat. JBS innovation manager Graham Treffone will address the conference on robotics in processing and consultant Jason Trompf will talk about improving profit margins. Leading lamb producers from across the country will also present their insights and experiences. They will speak about the role of Merinos in the industry, lifting stock capacity, growth rates and lean meat yield. US rancher and broadcaster Trent Loos and Australian "lambassador" Sam Kekovitch will add some show-biz glitz to the event. "The Australian Wool Innovation sponsored GrandsLamb Dinner is back on the Thursday night of the conference," said LambEx chairman Allan Piggot. "It's an event known for mouth-watering food, outstanding entertainment and networking. "As always, LambEx prides itself on showcasing lamb's diversity of cuts and diversity."