Overview
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is calling on grassfed beef and sheepmeat producers to participate in its producer consultation process. The initiative aims to let producers directly influence the research, development, and adoption (RD&A) activities funded by their levies.
Funding and Impact
The consultation process is part of a larger initiative that has already allocated more than $50 million towards various projects. Georgie Townsend, MLA’s Program Manager for Consultation, emphasised that the process enables producers to play a central role in decision-making concerning the allocation of their levies.
She stated, “This is an opportunity for producers to ensure that both national and regionally relevant RD&A priorities are identified, and that MLA’s investments offer maximum value.”
How to Get Involved
Producers can engage with one of the 19 regional consultation committees across Australia. These committees meet up to four times annually and serve as a crucial conduit for MLA to understand on-the-ground challenges and opportunities.
Townsend encouraged all interested producers to contact their local committee, adding, “MLA is committed to fostering a collaborative and innovative industry that benefits everyone involved.”
Research Advisory Councils
The regional committees operate under the guidance of three Research Advisory Councils (RACs):
- North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC)
- Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC)
- Western Australia Livestock Research Council (WALRC)
These councils work to identify the scope, impact, and scale of the research needed to address the priorities set forth.
Deadline and Further Information
Producers have until 1 December 2023 to submit their input through their local regional advisory committees. For additional details, producers are advised to consult the “Producer consultation” section on the MLA website.
