RED MEAT 2019 PREVIEW Station manager David Lee and his wife Clare will host a farm tour at ‘Windy Station’ as part of Red Meat 2019. Romani opens its gates Red meat producers have a rare as Windy Station, the Digital Livestock As a large‑scale mixed livestock opportunity to visit Romani 4.0 pilot project will also involve and cropping business, Romani’s Pastoral Company’s ‘Windy another of the company’s aggregations, involvement in the pilot project will Station’ near Quirindi when it hosts ‘Garangula’, near Harden, NSW. provide another challenge for digital a property tour as part of Red “All of our managers are very solution providers. Meat 2019. forward‑thinking and we’ve already Romani has developed a ‘shopping The 20,000ha property is one of been using technology such as sensors list’ for potential solution providers the host locations for MLA’s Digital on water tanks to save labour and including technology to monitor water Livestock 4.0 pilot project with Romani improve efficiencies,” Andrew said. troughs, water tanks and bore water Pastoral Company, designed to test flows; soil probes; grain silo level “We’ve been taking a close interest in sensors; and animal handling solutions. a range of on‑farm solutions as part the project between Carwoola and MLA, of MLA’s ongoing work in the digital and now our own involvement in this During the tour, producers will be technology space. project with MLA will allow us to dive able to see a variety of ag‑tech tools The project expands on a project being deeper into the digital technology space.in action encompassing connectivity, undertaken by Carwoola Pastoral “We’re focused on objective animal monitoring and tracking, asset Company in cooperation with MLA, monitoring and tracking, human safety, across Carwoola’s four properties in measurement of livestock with analytics and user interfaces. ■ NSW and the ACT. electronic tagging of cattle and sheep and so we’re very interested in seeing Andrw King Romani Pastoral Company General what performance‑based measurements aking@romanipastoral.com.au Manager, Andrew King, said as well we can collect and utilise.” Consumer insights shape redmeat’sstoyr The number of consumers Conducted by strategic consultancy “It gives us an evidence‑based look at shifting to a vegetarian diet firm Pollinate on behalf of MLA, trajectories and trends, and enables remains relatively stable at these valuable insights and their the industry to future‑proof risk 7.6% (up from 7.3% in 2018), but implications for the industry will be by recognising society’s concerns more than 75% of vegetarians discussed at the Red Meat 2019 and attitudes. classify themselves as ‘flexi’ and ‘Sharing red meat’s story’ industry breakfast on 20 November. “We're facing a shift in cultural and are open to the possible inclusion social diversity. There’s a genuine of meat in their diet. Pollinate CEO Howard Parry‑Husbands need to adapt to it, and that requires will be guest speaker at the breakfast,people to be open to diversity of That’s among the key findings where he’ll discuss how consumer thought and to invest in long‑term from MLA funded research insights help MLA’s ongoing changes and innovation. And which benchmarks consumer communications strategy to build the innovation really means doing attitudes and behaviours across public’s trust in the red meat industry.things better.” metropolitan Australia. “This is the tenth year this benchmarkingHoward said Australia has driven a The aim of the research was to has been undertaken, and our positive and proactive agenda for determine people’s perceptions and research has gathered really robust sustainable beef production. ■ concerns about the red meat industry, measurements of consumer attitudes understand purchase behaviours and behaviours to help inform the redmeat.mla.com.au and consumption of meat, and red meat industry’s decision‑making pollinate.com.au subsequent barriers. processes,” Howard said. 9