With Ekka week in full swing it is as usual a time where city embraces country, and metropolitan cousins have a close encounter with the early spring lambs and can’t believe they get eaten.
All of this in the midst of the episode that will now forever be known as the “Baaaa-naby” debacle.
Last Thursday, David Foote from Australian Country Choice had the unenviable task of speaking to what was the largest Rural Press Club audience to date.
Mr. Foote’s own personal history and growth as an individual and leader was a pilgrimage that examined the broader theme of industry leadership across the red meat sector.
His observation of the innumerable peak bodies diluting and working against themselves like the proverbial snake swallowing its own tail, whilst not a new idea, resonated with the 700-strong audience.
And it should resonate.
This lack of a united and clear voice and the inefficiencies that follow will be key as the industry presses forward over the next decade and faces off with the likelihood of more international trade barriers not less, the imminence of the “impossible or meatless burger” in a key market segment (the millennials), and pressure on the social licence to produce red meat from animal welfare and environmental concerns.
We should especially listen to those that have an integrated business model - they have a fairly unique view not only on the dichotomous balance of profitability in processing but also the forces that impact it all.
An integrated red meat company should have a much better view on the implementation of objective measurement in the industry.
I find it a little disheartening that so much emotion and political expense has been expended on the topic of objective measurement but it has not significantly progressed the debate.
It amazes me that an industry with nigh on 50 years experience in using objective measurement has not been widely canvassed, discussed or analysed as to the on-farm economic and wider industry impact of their implementation of objective measurement, also largely at grower expense and amidst processor mistrust.
An industry that is literally over the fence — and that is the wool industry. Or is that too close to the bone in the week that was Baaa-rnaby’s.
– International trade and investment advisor, Dr Ben Lyons
