IN MARKET GROWING DEMAND RED MEAT GOES FOR GOLD IN CLASSROOMS Sports stars in the classroom MLA also launched a new module for its Virtual Classroom program as part of the ‘Australian Beef. The Greatest’ brand sponsorship of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams at the Tokyo Games. The new module, Be Your Greatest Virtual Classroom, offers students around Australia the opportunity to chat with Paralympic and Olympic athletes who are also ambassadors for Australian Beef, to gain insight into their journey to greatness, including their background story and connection to agriculture. Ambassadors include: • Paralympians Eliza Ault‑Connell and Scott Reardon • Rugby Sevens’ most capped female player Emilee Cherry Students participating in MLA’s Virtual Classroom program. • Rugby Sevens Vice‑Captain Lewis Holland MLA consumer insights Teachers can adapt these activities • Hockeyroos Co‑Captain Emily Chalker indicate only one in five to suit online classrooms as well as • Olympic basketball player meat eaters have a good physical classrooms. Chris Goulding. understanding of Australian red So far, 246 classes have participated in meat production and only one Students can also learn how these the series, which covered topics such as: ambassadors incorporate healthy in three metro Australians have • Smart agriculture: MLA’s Program eating into their active lifestyles, with visited a cattle or sheep farm, with Manager – Sustainability and live‑streamed cooking classes where these numbers gradually declining CN30, Doug McNicholl, spoke to culinary personality Matt Sinclair teams over the past 10 years.* students about how Australian red up with athletes to cook their ‘winning’ At a time when there’s a disconnect meat producers use technology to beef meal. (Try one of Matt’s delicious between agriculture and metropolitan enhance sustainability and protect red meat recipes on page 47.) communities, MLA’s schools program the environment. This Virtual Classroom launched in helps students understand the red meat • Eat right, move well: Nutrition expert August and will continue during the and livestock industry in an interactive and dietitian Peta Carige spoke with lead‑up to the Tokyo Games in 2021. ■ and engaging way students about why a healthy diet is (*Source: MLA Community Sentiment . important and highlighted why protein – Research, 2020) Your Expert Classroom series particularly red meat – is needed to MLA recently launched three new maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Fiona Thompson video‑based initiatives to continue • A healthy start: Peta Carige also E: fthompson@mla.com.au educating students and their teachers shared tips on how to build and Georgia Goode about red meat production during E: ggoode@mla.com.au COVID‑19. maintain a healthy diet that includes red meat, discussing its benefits, how Learn more about MLA’s In term 2 of 2020, MLA sponsored the much we need and how often we community and school ‘Your Expert Classroom’ series, a new need it. programs at: curriculum‑linked program for students • Greener pastures: To increase mla.com.au/community‑programs aged 5–14 years. awareness that Australian red meat goodmeat.com.au/education‑ The series included four parts: a producers are responsible stewards resources series of educational videos, in‑home of the land, producer Charlie Teachers and students can register activities, a livestream video Q&A with Arnott spoke to students about the for MLA’s Virtual Excursions at: a producer, and an online marketing importance of maintaining biodiversity mlavirtualexcursions.com program targeting parents and teachers. on his farm in Boorowa, NSW. 43