Victorian cattle and sheep producers, processors and exporters can help to shape a road map for the Australian meat industry in the next five years.
The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) and Red Meat Advisory Council Ltd (RMAC) will host workshops at Hamilton and Attwood this month for input on the fourth national Meat Industry Strategic Plan (MISP-4).
DEPI manager of strategic partnerships within beef and sheep Geoff Kroker said the MISP-4 would provide a framework for the production, processing and live export sectors of Australia’s beef, sheepmeat and goat meat industries from 2015 to 2020.
“The workshops are a one-in-five year opportunity to be involved in the development of the red meat and livestock industry’s strategic direction,” Mr Kroker said.
A DEPI workshop with industry representatives in July has identified priority topics for discussion in the development of the MISP-4.
Feedbase, techonology, consumer requirements, animal welfare, the relationship between intramuscular and subcutaneous fat, farm management, market access, export development and investment attraction were topics marked for discussion, he said.
“By the end of each workshop, participants will have gained a clearer picture of how the industry plan is being developed, identified current regional issues, provided input on regional initiatives to be considered in the plan and heard about the next steps in the process,” Mr Kroker said.
RMAC chairman Ross Keane said the key focus in MISP-4 will be defining, and quantifying progress against, the industry’s greatest challenges and opportunities to 2020, and beyond.
The Attwood workshop will be held on October 14 at the DEPI Attwood Centre from 10am. RSVP to Sue Flower on 02 6030 4580 or by email sue.flower@depi.vic.gov.au by October 10 for catering purposes.
The Hamilton workshop will be held on October 16 at DEPI Hamilton, Mount Napier Road from 10am. RSVP to Matthew Knight on 03 5573 0903 or by email matthew.knight@depi.vic.gov.au by October 14 for catering purposes.
