A $4.8 million government grant for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) could have a big impact on the Australian meat industry.
Last week, Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced an almost $5 million grant for MLA’s research and development program. The non-profit organisation said they will use the grant to develop new X-ray and 3D digital imaging technology to allow the industry to measure meat yield and identify traits to predict the quality of meat cuts.
According to MLA, three measurement technologies will be developed for use on-farm and within the processing sector to reliably and objectively determine carcase composition and even more accurately determine eating quality. These new technologies will allow processors to precisely value carcases, optimising market-based cutting and de-boning decisions. This information will then help inform producers’ on-farm decision-making and profitability.
“Providing improved carcase composition, eating quality and compliance feedback from ‘paddock to plate’ is vital for a more efficient and market-oriented supply chain …This project will deliver real value to producers, processors and the entire supply chain,” said Norton.
“The evolution of this new technology represents a significant leap in the application of leading edge science for the industry, bringing us technology more commonly used in medical science.”
Funded through the Rural Research and Development for Profit program, this project will build on the findings of an earlier “insights to innovation” project to identify and capture new export market opportunities.