Australia's red meat sector wants to be carbon neutral by 2030
During MLA's annual general meeting in Alice Springs, the managing director of the research and marketing group, Richard Norton, said that achieving this goal would place the country above its competitors and it will reassure the consumers about the quality and integrity of Australian red meat.
Mr. Norton added Australian red meat’s reputation was second to none amongst global consumers, but the industry must keep focus on changing consumer demands and act on emerging threats and market disruptors to prosper into the future.
“With industry commitment, the right policy settings and new investment in research, development and adoption, the Australian red meat industry can be carbon neutral by 2030,” Mr. Norton said.
“And we can be the first red meat exporting nation to do so.”
MLA has initiated a project in partnership with CSIRO to find ways for the red meat industry, farm and processing sector to become carbon neutral.
The project has identified a series of innovation and farm management options including the expanded use of legumes and dung beetles in pastures, savannah fire management in northern Australia, feed supplements, feedlotting and vegetation management. Genetic selection and a potential vaccine to reduce methane production in the rumen were other opportunities, he said.
“These pathways don’t require the heavy hand of regulation,” Mr Norton said.
“What they do require is the commitment of industry, the right policy settings from federal and state governments, and a continued investment in research, development and adoption of innovation within industry.”
Mr Norton said the dividends from setting a carbon neutral goal would include:
- increased productivity in the red meat industry,
- additional farm income from carbon mitigation projects,
- a major contribution to government targets on emissions reduction, and
- another strong assurance for consumers of the quality and integrity of our naturally produced, great tasting Australian red meat.
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