IN MARKET GROWING DEMAND Kelvin believes Blackfella Beef has potential to unite Indigenous producers to market their own meat, creating employment and social opportunities for his community. “We want to use profits to create a fund for community programs, such as traineeships and school programs, to provide the next generation with skills – these kids are our future,” he said. The big three Blackfella Beef straddles central Queensland’s three main industries: agriculture, resources and tourism. Western Kangoulu business manager Stockmen at Woorabinda Pastoral Company, an Indigenous‑owned cattle business in Jason Pfingst sees an opportunity to central Queensland. expand the relationship between the resource sector and Indigenous‑owned There has also already been positive providing an opportunity for Indigenous or managed beef businesses. feedback from central Queensland’s producers across the country,” “In situations where mining companies tourism industry, with interest from Alice said. have purchased cattle stations restaurants in the region to serve locally Creating the model produced Indigenous‑owned beef. and leased grazing areas back One challenge facing Blackfella Beef to Indigenous groups, cultural “Blackfella Beef offers a uniquely is supply, so the group is exploring heritage and native title agreements Australian food experience, which taps opportunities to work with other require employment and economic into consumers’ desire to know the Indigenous landholders across opportunities for traditional owners,” story behind their meal,” Jason said. Queensland and, ultimately, nationally. Jason said. The story behind the product won’t stop at the farm gate – the objective Jason said the model could be rolled Supplying beef to fly in/fly out mining out across any Indigenous‑owned camps is one option being explored by is for every business in the Blackfella business, by showing how to establish the project. Beef supply chain to have Indigenous sustainable supply chains that support ownership or an Indigenous workforce to support skill development and community outcomes and unite What’s in capacity building across the community. different groups with a shared goal. Feasibility study “We’ll demonstrate how a brand can a name? Project leader USQ Professor Alice support programs such as youthscholarships and traineeships, so Blackfella Beef (or Murri Yuri Woodhead heads a team that customers know they’re not just buying in traditional language) is specialises in agribusiness product development, export, supply chains and from an Indigenous business but have already generating plenty of value adding. confidence that revenue is being discussion since it launched reinvested into community outcomes,” in Rockhampton at Beef During the 18‑month feasibility study, he said. Australia 2018. they’ll investigate what value could be derived from an Indigenous beef There are also lessons for other Director of Western Kangoulu brand (including what customers would industries around creating robust links Limited Jonathon Malone said it be willing to pay) and will assess the with Indigenous groups. was coined by Western Kangoulu most suitable outlet, for example, “We’re not inventing anything new, we’re as a strong, positive statement: “It’s supplying boxed beef to restaurants just joining the dots,” Jason said. a name the community can identify or supermarkets, or adding value to with – it says, loud and proud, this the product, for example by producing “The involvement of MLA and USQ has beef is Indigenous‑owned.” beef jerky. been crucial to connect us with key Kelvin Dunrobin believes the It’s anticipated that by mid‑2019, players in the industry and develop our brand lends itself to some inspiring Blackfella Beef products will unique business proposition.” ■ marketing imagery. be ready for market testing for consumer feedback. Jason Pfingst “It’s not just a name, there will be E: business@westernkangoulu. Aboriginal stockmen behind the “Our goal is not just to develop a niche com.au brand, and we’ll tell their story,” product, but to design a supply chain Alice Woodhead he said. model that could be scaled up to E: Alice.Woodhead@usq.edu.au national and even international markets, 43