INDUSTRY representatives are meeting in Karratha to discuss markets and opportunities for Northern beef enterprises and give pastoralists an update on the Department of Agriculture and Food's (DAFWA) Northern Beef Futures project.
Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston officially opens the event today, announcing a State Government business improvement grants program is helping drive better beef business in the Kimberley and Pilbara and linking them to new markets.
Mr Baston said the new grants were part of a broader initiative to foster market diversity, improve business models and integrate supply chains.
"The Northern Beef Futures (NBF) project has been supporting and working with industry to capture new market opportunities, particularly in Asia and the Middle East," Mr Baston said.
The grants, open until 5pm on April 1, are a component of the four-year $15 million Northern Beef Futures initiative, funded by the Royalties for Regions program.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the grants would improve the competitiveness of pastoral beef businesses in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
"I encourage all commercial cattle producers to capitalise on this fantastic opportunity and create greater growth prospects for their business," Mr Redman said.
DAFWA has agreements with key provincial governments in China and the NBF team has appointed dedicated in-country supply chain specialists in China and Indonesia to help foster exports.
The project team is working with these regions and commercial entities to develop exports of live cattle and boxed beef from WA.
Mr Redman said 13 commercial beef enterprises had so far accessed the grants for activities relating to herd management, irrigation and key performance indicators for their business.
Approved applicants can be reimbursed for up to $25,000 (excluding GST) for a consultant to conduct a business improvement review, develop or update a business plan or help implement improvements.
Industry leaders including Indonesian Great Giant Livestock Company director Dayu Ariasintawati, Northern Development Company consultant Steve Petty, Harvey Beef executive manager of livestock Kim McDougall and WA Live Exporters Association chairman Harold Sealy will offer insights into the cattle industry.
Kimberley and Pilbara Cattleman's Association executive Officer Catherine Marriott provides an update on its activities and Pilbara Ports Authority landside operations manager John Giles discusses livestock export developments.
The forum explored the drivers, developments and growth in the market and opportunities northern pastoralists could capture.
Mr Sealy said there had been some development of an alternative to the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) - the Livestock Global Assurance Program (LGAP) - which would operate across all Australia's live export markets, not just in Saudi Arabia.
The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council, Meat and Livestock Australia and LiveCorp have participated in the development of LGAP.
It is being promoted as a quality assurance certification scheme which would operate independently of government and at arms-length of industry.
Mr Sealy said there were further export opportunities within Vietnam and other markets such as China.
