Page 4 - National Poultry Newspaper

Opportunity opens with change to chicken meat pecking order
AGRIFUTURES Aus- tralia is seeking appli- cations for its Chicken Meat Program Adviso- ry Panel, which recom- mends where and how research, development and extension fund- ing is allocated for the AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program.
The Panel comprises people with a range of skills and experience in the research, farming and processing sectors of the chicken meat in- dustry, together with a representative from Ag- riFutures Australia.
The key functions of the Panel, which meets, on average, three times a year, are to:
• Advise AgriFutures Australia on the current state of the industry and its RD&E requirements;
• Recommend short- listed research applica- tions consistent with the research priorities identi- fied in the Chicken Meat Program Five-Year RD&E Plan 2014-2019; and
• Advise on and as- sist with dissemination, adoption and commer- cialisation of R&D.
Panel members are recompensed for their services to AgriFutures Australia at rates deter- mined by the Common- wealth’s Remuneration Tribunal.
Panel members are entitled to sitting fees for meetings and travel expenses.
Cant Comment by BRENDON CANT
Key components of the Chicken Meat Program are increasing produc- tivity and efficiency of production, and deliver- ing safe food and good animal welfare out- comes.
The program is fund- ed by statutory levies paid by industry par- ticipants.
This levy revenue is matched by AgriFutures Australia at up to 0.5 percent of GVP.
The Chicken Meat Program collaborates with other rural research and development corpo- rations and research in- vestments are guided by the Panel.
The industry’s current RD&E objectives are:
• Increase productivity and efficiency of chick- en meat production;
• Deliver safe food and good animal welfare outcomes;
• Manage the environ- ment for sustainable de- velopment;
• Create foundations for the future, includ- ing capacity and market insight; and
• Ensure research adoption via extension and communication.
According to AgriFu- tures Australia, chicken meat production in Aus- tralia is dominated by a small number of large, vertically integrated, privately owned busi- nesses which typically contract out the growing to independent chicken growers.
Around 800 contract growers rear about 80 percent of Australia’s meat chickens.
The industry has a strong presence in ru- ral and regional com- munities, directly em- ploying about 40,000 people with a further 100,000 jobs dependent on chicken meat produc- tion.
The chicken meat in- dustry buys about 5 per- cent of all grain grown in Australia.
The industry has many opportunities to capital- ise on chicken meat’s modest environmental footprint and to further reduce its environmen-
tal impacts and emis- sions.
Continuous improve- ment, including RD&E to optimise flock per- formance, efficiency and industry productivi- ty, is needed for chicken meat to retain its favour- able position as the most affordable and popular meat on the domestic market, according to AgriFutures Australia.
Former Panel Deputy Chair Guy Hebblewhite was recently elevated to Chair, in recognition of his industry leadership, unique scientific and
‘hands-on’ field exper- tise and commitment to industry growth.
With Mr Hebblewhite stepping into the role of Chair, a Panel vacancy now exists.
Applications for the Chicken Meat Program Advisory Panel close on April 8 (sadly you’ll be too late if you’re read- ing the paper version of this edition!) and should be submitted to Georgina Townsend, Manager, Research, 0438 495 325 and email georgina.townsend@ag rifutures.com.au
With a new Chair occupying the top perch at AgriFutures Australia’s Chicken Meat Program Advisory Panel, a vacancy now exists for someone to stand up.
Egg industry responds to community feedback
THE opinions of thou- sands of Australians who participated in a CSIRO research program about egg farming in Australia have been addressed in a Sustainability Frame- work Report for the egg industry.
The Sustainability Framework Report, re- leased by the industry’s research body, Australian Eggs, has been developed to help egg farmers un- derstand and respond to evolving community ex- pectations.
Australians eat 245 eggs each a year, and the CSIRO research program was de- signed to give the commu- nity a voice about different aspects of egg farming, ac- cording to Australian Eggs’ managing director Rowan McMonnies.
“By commissioning the CSIRO to develop and de- liver the engagement with the community, we were able to gain an insight into the areas of our industry that are of greatest interest to people,” Mr McMon- nies said.
“The CSIRO commu- nity research identified a number of priority issues such as nutrition, animal husbandry and the carbon footprint of the industry.
“The report provides context on these issues, identifies progress to date and lists opportunities for ongoing improvement.
“The next step for the industry is to identify ways to bring these com- munity values to a prac- tical commercial setting
and this will be the fo- cus of Australian Eggs’ research program for the new year.”
Bede Burke has farmed in Tamworth, NSW for over 35 years.
He welcomed the launch of the Sustainability Framework as a means of improving understanding of the egg industry.
“The research underpin- ning the Sustainability Framework has provided the industry with a clear insight into community expectations around egg production in Australia,” Mr Burke said.
“The Framework has created a roadmap for egg producers that will help guide the future direction of our businesses.
“Importantly, it will also improve the community’s understanding of complex issues such as hen welfare, biosecurity and the over- all economic viability of the egg industry.”
The Sustainability Framework Report com- pletes the first annual cycle of a three-year pro- gram of engagement with Australians, designed to ensure the industry farms eggs in a manner that is socially, environmentally and economically sustain- able.
“This work will enable egg farmers to understand how community attitudes are evolving and make more informed decisions to ensure their businesses are on track with com- munity expectations,” Mr McMonnies said.
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Page 4 – National Poultry Newspaper, April 2019
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