Published Wednesday, 24 September, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Beef industry to focus on meeting consumer demands
Queensland’s beef industry came under the spotlight today when Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin met with industry representatives in Charters Towers to discuss the sector’s successes and future plans.
Mr Mulherin told the gathering the Government was committed to ensuring Queensland’s beef industry continues to innovate to meet the demands of consumers across the globe.
“As part of the Bligh Government’s Q2 vision, we are committed to creating a diverse economy in Queensland powered by bright ideas and this includes further developing our beef industry which is worth $3.36 billion to the State’s economy.
“To achieve this, we are taking a Fresh Approach to service delivery spearheaded by programs such as the recently released FutureBeef initiative, which focuses on critical points in beef supply chains to enhance whole-of-chain performance across Queensland.
“This program is about providing modern, efficient and targeted services, which represent the best investment in staff and resources to assist Queensland’s primary industries.
“While the majority of my Department’s extension effort for the beef industry is across the breeding, growing, backgrounding and feedlot sectors of the supply chain, it also supports business opportunities and business relationships between all sectors.”
Mr Mulherin also discussed the Value in Beef project which has been running for the past two years specifically aimed at boosting the North Queensland beef industry.
“Value in Beef‘s aim has been to encourage North Queensland graziers to produce high quality, pasture fed beef that is desirable to consumers in Australia and overseas.
“The real push in the Value in Beef project has been to gear up our entire supply chain to maximise the market advantage that a great product delivers,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This project is not only working in the paddock, where our science can assist maximising breeding, nutrition technologies; but also along the supply chain, in processing and marketing.
“The industry received a significant boost earlier this year with the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) accreditation of Townsville’s Swift and Co processing facility.
“There are a range of activities currently being undertaken as part of the Value in Beef project particularly in the export area with work underway to find niche markets in China, Vietnam and Hong Kong for MSA pasture fed beef.
“My Department’s global footprints project is also linking producers and processors with distributors and exporters from across the world.”
Mr Mulherin also took the opportunity to encourage producers to become involved in the Beef 2009 event to be held in Rockhampton in May.
Media: 3239 6530
Mr Mulherin told the gathering the Government was committed to ensuring Queensland’s beef industry continues to innovate to meet the demands of consumers across the globe.
“As part of the Bligh Government’s Q2 vision, we are committed to creating a diverse economy in Queensland powered by bright ideas and this includes further developing our beef industry which is worth $3.36 billion to the State’s economy.
“To achieve this, we are taking a Fresh Approach to service delivery spearheaded by programs such as the recently released FutureBeef initiative, which focuses on critical points in beef supply chains to enhance whole-of-chain performance across Queensland.
“This program is about providing modern, efficient and targeted services, which represent the best investment in staff and resources to assist Queensland’s primary industries.
“While the majority of my Department’s extension effort for the beef industry is across the breeding, growing, backgrounding and feedlot sectors of the supply chain, it also supports business opportunities and business relationships between all sectors.”
Mr Mulherin also discussed the Value in Beef project which has been running for the past two years specifically aimed at boosting the North Queensland beef industry.
“Value in Beef‘s aim has been to encourage North Queensland graziers to produce high quality, pasture fed beef that is desirable to consumers in Australia and overseas.
“The real push in the Value in Beef project has been to gear up our entire supply chain to maximise the market advantage that a great product delivers,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This project is not only working in the paddock, where our science can assist maximising breeding, nutrition technologies; but also along the supply chain, in processing and marketing.
“The industry received a significant boost earlier this year with the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) accreditation of Townsville’s Swift and Co processing facility.
“There are a range of activities currently being undertaken as part of the Value in Beef project particularly in the export area with work underway to find niche markets in China, Vietnam and Hong Kong for MSA pasture fed beef.
“My Department’s global footprints project is also linking producers and processors with distributors and exporters from across the world.”
Mr Mulherin also took the opportunity to encourage producers to become involved in the Beef 2009 event to be held in Rockhampton in May.
Media: 3239 6530