FROM cattle and sheepmeat producers to feedlot operators and beef exporters, close to 800 people from all sectors of the red meat supply chain have converged on Canberra today for what is arguably the industry’s biggest annual event.
The four-day Red Meat 2018, which incorporates the annual general meeting of key body Meat and Livestock Australia, kicks off with a global markets forum.
Trade negotiations with Indonesia and the European Union will no doubt be hot topics in today’s program, which features a wealth of international market management experience in the speaker line-up.
MLA has also flagged discussion on the demand for premium Australian lamb from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and robust growth in sheepmeat exports into China.
Ahead of today’s forum, MLA updated its online global and domestic market snapshots with new consumer insights, market access developments and 2017/18 export performance data.
The snapshots cover ten key markets for beef and eight key markets for sheepmeat, including Australia, Japan, North America, Korea, China, Indonesia, South-East Asia, the European Union and the Middle East and North Africa.
“Australia supplies red meat to over 100 countries and demand for our products is heavily influenced by changing consumer preferences, as well as trade access and supplies from competing nations,” market intelligence manager Scott Tolmie said.
“Among the insights contained in the updated snapshots are the key outcomes of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), and the implications of Brexit to the Australian red meat industry.
“The snapshots also look at the ongoing demand for Australian chilled grassfed beef from US consumers, and the increasing competition from US beef in Japan and Korea markets.
“The snapshots aim to not only provide information around what is driving export volumes and values, but a more forward looking analysis of the consumer and industry trends that will influence Australia’s future red meat exports into each market.”
The comprehensive Red Meat program continues tonight with a look at the industry’s achievements over the past 20 years at a special welcome function, featuring keynote addresses from the Hon John Anderson AO, David Crombie AM and current MLA Chair Dr Michele Allan.
Tomorrow morning’s business breakfast will feature an address from Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.
Tours to producers’ properties, exploration of the digital scene for red meat and an in-depth look at changing consumer and community expectations will also be on the agenda this week.
Proceedings across the four days will be livestreamed through the Red Meat 2018 website