Projects

Results: The widely-adopted Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) program to dramatically boost meat eating quality is expected to deliver a net industry benefit of $1.1 billion over 30 years.

Chair of MLA Don Heatley said the three-pronged MLA Eating Quality program had evolved into a world-leading quality assurance system from farm to consumer.

“An independent review by the Centre for International Economics (CIE) showed a $223 million investment in eating quality by MLA and our research partners over 30 years should return a net industry benefit of $1.1b,” Mr Heatley said.

“The industry benefit-cost ratio from the Eating Quality program is a solid five to one.”

The impact on consumers is expected to generate a total $3.5b net benefit to Australians between 1996 and 2029.

CIE assessed the total benefit-cost ratio of the Eating Quality program at 20:1, including flow-on benefits to the national economy.

The program involves three quality systems: Meat Standards Australia Beef (MSA Beef), MSA Sheepmeat, and Meat Quality Science and Technology (MQST).

The Eating Quality program began with beef in 1996. MSA was formally created in 1998 after two years of extensive analysis and development of the world-leading consumer-based appraisal program.

With an investment of $210m, MSA Beef constitutes the largest single component of the Eating Quality program.

Over the next 30 years, the program is expected to deliver serious benefits to industry and consumers.

“The Eating Quality program is set to return a net benefit of $932m to the red meat industry – a benefit-cost ratio of 4:1 in the form of increased productivity.

“Public benefits to the value of $3.4b include higher incomes, extensive training and upskilling, and reduced occupational health and safety risks,” Mr Heatley said.

The $10.3m investment in MSA Sheepmeat and MQST, and $2.5m contribution for technology implementation, are expected to generate $151m in red meat industry added value and $79m net benefits to Australians.

Adoption by all major sheep processors will see up to 78 per cent of Australian sheepmeat processed in accordance MSA sheepmeat and MQST initiatives by 2010.

 MLA has developed this brochure detailing the success the Eating Quality program.