American Meat Science Association
AMSA is a nonprofit professional membership association that serves more than 1,000 meat scientists, researchers, students, and industry professionals through conferences, certifications, scientific publications, online education, and a USDA-funded technical assistance program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersKearney, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What American Meat Science Association does
The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1997 (with roots extending to its 1926-vintage Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program), headquartered in Kearney, Missouri. It cultivates a global community of more than 1,000 meat scientists, researchers, students, and industry professionals affiliated with major U.S. universities and meat processing companies. AMSA serves as the primary organized forum for meat science collaboration, standards development, and talent pipeline development in the United States, with an explicitly global membership footprint.
AMSA's product portfolio spans (i) the Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) annual conference, short courses, and the Student Training and Education Program (STEP); (ii) the AMSA Educational Database, an online learning management system built on the Tovuti platform delivering meat evaluation techniques, image libraries, and grading training; (iii) the Meat and Muscle Biology peer-reviewed scientific journal and the industry-standard Meat Evaluation Handbook, the Meat Science Lexicon, and white paper publications distributed via Lulu.com; (iv) AMSA/iCEV industry certifications; (v) the Meat Science Career Center job board, hosted on Naylor Association Solutions software; (vi) the USDA-AMS Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance Program (MPPTAP), delivered in coordination with the Flower Hill Institute; and (vii) educational product sales such as Beef Marbling Cards, Ribeye Grids, and Beef Probes. The technology stack is essentially a content/community platform rather than a proprietary software product, with member enrollment, e-commerce, and learning all running through standard association software.
Revenue is generated from seven distinct streams: recurring membership dues, event registration fees for RMC/Short Courses/STEP/SLC, one-time publication and product sales, professional certification fees, recurring career-center job-posting fees, Development Council donations via the Meat the Future endowment campaign, and government-funded technical assistance fees from the USDA-AMS MPPTAP program. Customer segments split between individual professionals and students on the membership side and institutional enterprise buyers (Tyson, Cargill, JBS USA/Pilgrim's, Hormel, Merck Animal Health, Sealed Air/Cryovac, H-E-B, Empirical Foods, Kemin, National Pork Board, USMEF, IFF) on the sustaining-partner and recruitment side. The GTM motion is community-led, with sustaining partner sponsorship of contests and scholarships driving enterprise engagement.
American Meat Science Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Meat Science Association
- Legal name
- American Meat Science Association
- Website
- https://meatscience.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AMSA is a nonprofit professional membership association that serves more than 1,000 meat scientists, researchers, students, and industry professionals through conferences, certifications, scientific publications, online education, and a USDA-funded technical assistance program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Meat Science Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Association Services
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Health Policy, Standards & International Coordination (e.g., WOAH/FAO) (HLAMAJAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)
Keywords
Where American Meat Science Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kearney
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Meat Science Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to professional resources, networking, and member benefits
- Publications and Book Sales: Sale of meat science resources, fact sheets, handbooks including the Meat Evaluation Handbook through Lulu.com publishing partner
- Event Registrations: Registration fees for the Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC), Short Courses, STEP, SLC conferences, and other educational events
- Certifications: Revenue from AMSA/iCEV meat industry certification programs
- Career Center Services: Job posting fees and career services for employers and job seekers in the meat science industry
- Product Sales: Sale of educational materials including USDA Beef Marbling Cards, Pork Marbling and Color Cards, Ribeye Grids, Beef Probes, and instructional materials
- Development Council Donations: Charitable contributions through the Meat the Future Campaign and other endowment programs supporting meat science education
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
American Meat Science Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AMSA is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers meat science education, certification, and community services to individuals and organizations in the meat industry and academia. Its core offerings include annual membership enrollment, the Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC), Short Courses, the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program, AMSA/iCEV industry certifications, the Meat and Muscle Biology peer-reviewed journal, scientific resource guides and white papers, the AMSA Educational Database learning platform, and the USDA-AMS Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance Program (MPPTAP).
Product overview
American Meat Science Association is a professional membership organization offering a unified portfolio of services for meat science professionals and students. The core offerings include the Meat Science Career Center (a job board platform), the Meat Judging Program (competitive evaluation contests), the AMSA Educational Database (online learning resources), the USDA-AMS MPPTAP (technical assistance for meat processors), the annual Reciprocal Meat Conference, the Meat and Muscle Biology scientific journal, AMSA/iCEV Certifications, and the Meat the Future Campaign (endowment/fundraising). These products collectively support the professional development, education, and advancement of meat science practitioners across academia and industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) Annual professional conference featuring industry sessions, sponsored presentations, and networking opportunities for meat science professionals, covering topics such as food safety, technology, quality research, and sustainability.
- Meat Judging Program Intercollegiate meat judging competition program that trains and evaluates students in meat evaluation and quality assessment, with contests including National Western, Southwestern, South Plains, American Royal, Eastern National, Cargill High Plains, and International.
- AMSA/iCEV Certifications Industry certifications for meat science professionals and students, offered in partnership with iCEV.
- AMSA Educational Database Online learning platform providing meat science educational resources including basic meat judging evaluation techniques, practice classes, image library, beef quality grading, beef yield grading, and retail identification.
- AMSA Meat Science Career Center Job board and career management platform for meat science professionals, enabling job seekers to post resumes, apply for positions, and access career resources.
- Meat and Muscle Biology Journal Peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research on meat science, muscle biology, and related topics.
- USDA-AMS MPPTAP Technical Assistance Program Technical assistance program connecting USDA program participants with scientific and technical support for meat and poultry processing, covering federal grant application management, business development, operational support, and supply chain development.
- Student Training and Education Program (STEP) Program providing training and educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in meat science.
- Meat the Future Campaign Endowment and fundraising campaign supporting the long-term financial stability and initiatives of AMSA, including student scholarships and mentorship programs.
- Short Courses Educational short courses for meat science professionals delivered alongside the Reciprocal Meat Conference and other AMSA events.
- Meat Science Resource Guides Collection of educational fact sheets and guides covering topics including Salmonella interventions, color factors, meat science terminology, and alternative curing methods.
- AMSA Membership Annual professional membership providing individuals and organizations with access to meat science resources, networking, publications, and member benefits.
Companies that use American Meat Science Association
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American Meat Science Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
American Meat Science Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- USDA Agricultural Marketing ServicecoreUSDA AMS provides funding for the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity - Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program. AMSA serves as a technical assistance provider helping participants in USDA meat and poultry supply chain programs access scientific and technical support.
- Flower Hill InstitutecoreFlower Hill Institute is the overall coordinator for the MPPTA project. AMSA is one of the technical assistance providers in the network coordinated by Flower Hill Institute.
- CargillmajorCargill is a sustaining partner and contest sponsor for the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program, supporting Eastern National and Cargill High Plains contests. Also sponsors Dr. Gary C. Smith Scholarship.
- Tyson FoodsmajorTyson Foods is a sustaining partner and sponsors the International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest. Logo appears on the sustaining partners section.
- JBS USA and Pilgrim'smajorJBS USA Food Company and Pilgrim's are sustaining partners and sponsor the National Western Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest.
- HormelmajorHormel is a sustaining partner and sponsors the National Barrow Show Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest.
- Merck Animal HealthmajorMerck Animal Health is a sustaining partner sponsor for the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program.
- National Pork BoardmajorNational Pork Board is a sustaining partner and supports meat science research and education programs.
- Sealed Air (Cryovac)majorSealed Air's Cryovac Brand is a sustaining partner sponsor for the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program.
- H-E-BmajorH-E-B is listed as a sustaining partner supporting AMSA programs.
- Empirical FoodsmajorEmpirical Foods is listed as a sustaining partner supporting AMSA.
- KeminmajorKemin is a sustaining partner sponsor for the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program.
- iCEVmajoriCEV is a sustaining partner and provides certification services through AMSA/iCEV Certifications.
- U.S. Meat Export FederationmajorUSMEF is a sustaining partner sponsor for the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program.
- Lulu.comminorLulu.com is the publishing partner for the Meat Evaluation Handbook and other AMSA publications.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American Meat Science Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Poultry Science Association: Membership association for poultry scientists with analogous academic/industry base, peer-reviewed journal, annual conference, and student judging/awards programs. Comparable structure in an adjacent meat-protein sub-sector.
- American Society of Animal Science: Professional association serving animal scientists across livestock species, with parallel structure to AMSA: scientific journal, annual meeting, member certifications, and academic/industry member base. Closest direct counterpart by mission and operating model.
- American Dairy Science Association: Professional association for dairy science with parallel membership, journal (Journal of Dairy Science), annual meeting, and student programs. Same operating architecture as AMSA but serving the dairy protein category.
- American Association of Meat Processors: Trade association for small-to-mid meat processors and retailers, overlapping with AMSA in meat-industry education, conventions, and processor support, but oriented toward processors rather than meat scientists.
- Institute of Food Technologists: Professional membership association for food scientists and technologists, mirroring AMSA's community-led model, scientific journal, certification programs, and annual conference (IFT FIRST). Highly comparable operating model in an adjacent food-science domain.
Regional players
- International Meat Secretariat: Global meat-sector trade association coordinating international policy and science exchange. Comparable global-coordination role to AMSA's standards and education activities, but international in scope rather than US-centric.
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers: Professional society for agricultural and biological engineers with similar membership, journal, and conference structure. Serves an adjacent agricultural-discipline community rather than competing head-on with AMSA.
Broad incumbents
- International Association for Food Protection: Membership association advancing food safety across categories. Comparable community-led operating model and conference structure; broader scope than AMSA but overlapping scientific and certification positioning.
- North American Meat Institute: Larger meat-industry trade association representing packers, processors, and suppliers. Overlaps with AMSA on industry convening and processor support, but covers the meat industry's policy and regulatory agenda more broadly.
Others
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association: US beef industry trade and policy association. Not a scientific counterpart, but ecosystem-relevant as a beef-industry convener with overlapping sponsor base and interest in meat quality research.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Meat Science Association social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Meat Science Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Meat Science Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
American Meat Science Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Meat Science Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Meat Science Association
What does American Meat Science Association do?
AMSA is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers meat science education, certification, and community services to individuals and organizations in the meat industry and academia. Its core offerings include annual membership enrollment, the Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC), Short Courses, the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program, AMSA/iCEV industry certifications, the Meat and Muscle Biology peer-reviewed journal, scientific resource guides and white papers, the AMSA Educational Database learning platform, and the USDA-AMS Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance Program (MPPTAP).
Is American Meat Science Association a public or private company?
American Meat Science Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Meat Science Association founded?
American Meat Science Association was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is American Meat Science Association based?
American Meat Science Association is headquartered in Kearney, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Meat Science Association make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are publications and Book Sales, event Registrations, certifications, career Center Services, product Sales and development Council Donations.
Who are American Meat Science Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Poultry Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, American Dairy Science Association, American Association of Meat Processors and Institute of Food Technologists. Regional players are International Meat Secretariat and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Broad incumbents are International Association for Food Protection and North American Meat Institute. National Cattlemen's Beef Association is listed as an others.
Does American Meat Science Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Meat Science Association.
What industry is American Meat Science Association in?
American Meat Science Association's product category is Professional Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMAJAO, Animal Health Policy, Standards & International Coordination (e.g., WOAH/FAO), with a secondary code of AFAEALAN, Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 8600.