COLLABORATION Grassroots consultation in action MLA’s regional our responses to those suggestions in forums, regional committees and consultation framework, the next annual call.” research councils, to overcome current which began in 2015, inconsistencies in the methods of The independent review of MLA’s different groups. enables producers to regional consultation framework have direct input into industry involved interviews with 30 key Another suggested increasing research, development and stakeholders including peak industry timeframes for proposals in the adoption (RD&A) priorities. councils, chairs of the three research annual project call process, to allow councils, numerous regional committee applicants to engage with producers Three years after adopting this new chairs, chair of the Technical Expert in the early project concept stage, approach, an independent review has Panel, MLA program managers and to build collaborative projects and found stakeholders are supportive a broad sample of co-investors. potentially improve the quality of of the process, with no significant Other co-investors and regional proposals received. changes recommended. chairs contributed feedback via an “The review has shown we are on the email questionnaire. Irene Sobotta right track,” Consultation Program T: 02 9463 9249 The final report noted: “Feedback E: isobotta@mla.com.au Manager Irene Sobotta said. received during the project consultation mla.com.au/consultation “We’ve adopted a culture of continuous from across the individual stakeholders improvement and that seems to be was generally supportive of MLA’s Find out how you can join working well. regional consultation framework.” in the process: “Everyone involved in the review While it did not recommend any Southern Australian Meat acknowledged that the structures and “significant changes to the framework Research Council: processes are continuing to evolve or structure”, the review did identify samrc.com.au and that improvements have been and refinements that could improve Western Australian Livestock continue to be actively implemented stakeholder satisfaction and improve Research Council: with each annual project call. operational efficiencies. walrc.com.au “The stakeholders were frank about One suggested refinement was to North Australia Beef what they think could be done better implement a standardised approach to Research Council: and how, and we’ll start implementing setting research priorities at producer jackiekyte.com.au/nabrc Timeline for annual RD&A call 2019–20 Stage Important dates National priorities sheepmeat and grassfed beef published on the MLA website Week starting 3 September 2018 Annual call for projects in response to terms of reference for priority sheepmeat and10 September 2018 grassfed beef RD&A published on the MLA website and advertised nationally Closing: 19 October 2018 Applicants of unsuccessful preliminary proposals notified Week starting 21 January 2019 MLA invites full proposals for RD&A projects that address national RD&A Week starting 21 January 2019 priorities for sheepmeat and grassfed beef Closing: 15 February 2019 Applicants of unsuccessful full proposals notified May 2019 New sheepmeat and grassfed beef RD&A projects begin subject to MLA approval July 2019 processes and research provider acceptance of standard MLA terms and conditions 8