Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has been assisting and training food professionals through seminars and chef events in Greater China, putting Australian red meat in centre stage.
There has been a growing interest in learning chilled meat handling techniques from food professionals as exports rise. Chilled meat exports to Greater China have increased by 10 per cent over the past five years, with exports exceeding 41,000 tonnes in 2024.
To meet these demands, MLA’s Greater China office held two cold chain seminars in Shanghai and Taipei during the months of March and April. These events were aimed at enhancing the trust of Chinese clients and consumers in Australian meat products.
Bringing together nearly 250 industry professionals, two experts from the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) and FIRST management shared valuable perspectives on the maintenance of meat quality and safety during the cold chain process.
MLA Greater China also ran the Rising Star International Young Chefs Competition, drawing 157 contestants across China, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia. The three-day chef event offered the professionals to display skills on a global stage.
Prior to this, two training bootcamps were held in Shanghai to go through pre-competition talks, cooking shows and butchery guides. The bootcamps shared the quality and sustainability of Australian beef and lamb.
These activities by the MLA promotes food culture exchange between Australia and China.
MLA Greater China aims to invest in more events to drive industry innovation.