IN MARKET GROWING DEMAND “We’re encouraging people to look at the data and understand how they can Ian Jenson Making sense change their practices to ensure the E: ijenson@mla.com quality of the red meat product at the Learn more about the shelf life of customer other end of the supply chain.” of red meat at: complaints MLA has a licence from the University mla.com.au/shelf‑life of Tasmania to use the tool for Listen to Ian Jenson discuss the The Western Australian Meat research purposes. MLA is working benefits of the shelf life predictor Marketing Co‑operative with consultants to help exporters use tool on Episode 4 of MLA’s ‘On (WAMMCO) has started using the the tool to analyse their supply chains. the ground’ podcast at: MLA‑developed shelf life predictor mla.com.au/on‑the‑ground tool to make sense of customer It’s expected to become commercially complaints about shelf life. available within a year. ■ The producer‑owned cooperative Why the shelf life tool is a win specialises in chilled, vacuum‑packed, value‑added lamb cuts for export markets including the EU, North for the red meat industry America and Malaysia. WAMMCO Quality Manager Marc Chambers said the first step was to take data from loggers in containers “Australian beef and lamb have a which had already arrived overseas great advantage globally with shelf and enter it into the shelf life model. life and this kind of innovation “This educated us as to the huge just helps build more trust with variances even small temperature the customer.” changes could make and the drastic Andrew Cox, MLA General Manager – reduction of shelf life to our red meat International Markets products,” Marc said. “Generally, there was an obvious issue with temperature variance above 1°C for a period of time. “With global markets becoming more We used this information to competitive, having tools which demonstrate to our transporters assist to manage the shelf life of and customers that we needed to Australian red meat across the cold keep the temperature below 1°C for chain will be a distinct advantage. best shelf life results.” This should not only prompt more WAMMCO now uses GPS data product loyalty and customer loggers to forecast when there may satisfaction, but also help facilitate be an issue with shelf life. improved acceptance and access for “Instead of wearing the cost of a large vacuum‑packed products.” claim, we now have the opportunity Andrew McCallum, MLA Global Manager – to claim insurance compensation Trade and Market Access from transporters, or at least advise a customer if shelf life has been decreased,” Marc said. “The shelf life predictor tool turns data He said when customers know temperature is monitored through to into valuable information. This tool delivery and the shelf life predictor gives exporters the ability to control the tool is applied, there are a reduced supply chain, identify where the number of insurance claims for problem is and work to fix it – ultimately decreased shelf life. ■ making the supply chain more efficient.” Ian Jenson, MLA Market Access Science and Marc Chambers Technology Manager E: marc@wammco.com.au 45