IN BRIEF MLA’s Strategic Plan 2025: Delivering tangible value M LA has released its new• access improved delivery of support of biosecurity, food safety five-year strategic plan,core services. and traceability. outlining how it will focusRepresentatives from across the cattle,It also highlights the importance of efforts through to 2025 to ensuresheep and goat industry supply chainsactivities which accelerate data capture, red meat producers see a positivewere involved in workshops, meetingsend-to-end supply chain verification return on their levy investment.and discussions and their feedback wasand knowledge transfer within the a key input into the plan’s development.supply chain to support business MLA’s Strategic Plan 2025 was developed with consultation withTargeted investment decision making. representatives from across the redHere’s how MLA will increaseThere’s also an emphasis on ensuring meat supply chain. investment to deliver the strategy.MLA investments contribute to a socially, It has six strategic focus areasAdoption and extension environmentally and economically (see box below) to help producers sustainable Australian red meat industry. MLA’s Strategic Plan 2025 sees a and their supply chains: significant increase in funds allocatedMLA Managing Director, Jason Strong, • make better decisions informedto adoption and extension activities.said MLA will focus on programs by data MLA programs will have clear adoptionof work which help producers • address industry’s big, complexand extension pathways helpingbe more productive to deliver challenges to ensure red meat producers cana global competitive advantage. • identify new ways to capture valuesuccessfully implement practicalOn-farm practice change will go and increase profitability (through newsolutions for their farm businesses.hand-in-hand with adapting to climate revenue streams and developing highPrograms to support red meatvariability, delivering world-leading value products) industry integrity systems animal health and welfare outcomes • look beyond today’s farm gate toThe plan highlights the importanceand adopting Carbon Neutral 2030 strengthen collaboration of strengthening existing systems in(CN30) pathways. MLA’s strategic focus areas MLA’s Strategic Plan 2025 has six focus areas to help producers and their supply chains: Decisions informed through data and insightsDeveloping new, high value products which Transitioningto a culture which captures and sharesmaximise the whole carcase data across every point in the supply chain to enableDiversifying products to drive growth through new the highest value opportunities to be identified and ausages and occasions for red meat. shared understanding of challenges to be addressed.Beyond today’s farm gate Targeted investment to address the industry’sBalancing the known challenges and opportunities big, complex challenges and anticipating the future issues industry will Prioritising the challenges to combat by the impactface, by fostering a culture which looks both to they could deliver for the industry. MLA will explorethe future and to other industries to inform today’s ways to optimise resources and address seasonal decision‑making. and climate variability. It will also continue to focusStrengthening our core on meeting community expectations of animal health, animal welfare and environmental stewardship.Continuing to invest in the essential services which underpin the competitiveness of our industry, Enabling new sources of revenue specifically integrity systems, market access, nutrition Identifying new sources of revenue to capture valueand domestic and international marketing and and increase profitability alongside red meat production,promotion activities. including providing environmental and ecosystem services. 6