Producer Consultation Process
MLA’s Producer Consultation Process informs research, development and adoption (RD&A) investment of on-farm productivity research funds for the red meat industry. The process empowers beef and sheepmeat producers to directly influence on-farm RD&A activities that are funded by their levies. This process ensures national and regional relevant RD&A priorities are identified to deliver optimum value to producers. The consultation process is designed to:
- maximise producer engagement and input
- give sufficient time for researchers to collate effective research proposals
- accommodate MLA’s strategic partnerships and MLA Donor Company (MDC) funding where appropriate.
The producer consultation process has enabled MLA to fund more than $50 million worth of projects that seek solutions to producer priorities. The Producer Investment Call has attracted more than 600 submitted preliminary proposals from 83 applicant organisations and resulted in more than 70 contracted projects.
How does the Producer Consultation Process work?
The Producer Consultation Process is underpinned by a prioritisation and project review process (detailed below).
Find a committee near you
Want to have your say on where your levies are invested? Find a committee near you by searching the map below.
Secretary:
Stacey Holzapfel
NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Katherine, NT
Secretary
Mary Williams
NT Department of Industry Tourism and Trade
Katherine, NT
0448 560 321
Secretary
Georgia Anderson
NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Alice Springs, NT
0417 731 997
Secretary
Emily Corbett
QLD Department of Primary Industries
0474 103 635
Secretary:
Trish Nolan
QLD Department of Primary Industries
0476 910 190
Secretary
Mick Sullivan
QLD Department of Primary Industries
Rockhampton, QLD
0428 104 374
Secretary
Billie Standfield
QLD Department of Primary Industries
Brisbane, QLD
0455 303 633
Secretary:
Melissah Dayman
QLD Department of Primary Industries
0436 673 723
Secretary:
Jane Evans
QLD Department of Primary Industries
Cloncurry, QLD
0436 666 290
If you have any questions about which committee might be your best connection, contact the relevant Research Advisory Council (RAC) for your region:
Members of the Red Meat Panel
Sarah Strachan
Paul Burke
NABRC Chair
Richard Cox
NABRC Producer Chair
Ross Myhill
NABRC Producer Chair
Sue Hatcher
SALRC Chair
Christine White
SALRC Regional Producer Chair
Meridie Jackson
SALRC Regional Producer Chair
Dr Bronwyn Clarke
WALRC Chair
Dean Wyatt
WALRC Producer Member
Jason Stokes
WALRC Producer Member
Bonnie Skinner
CEO - Sheep Producers Australia
Bindi Murray
Board Director - Sheep Producers Australia
Will Evans
CEO - Cattle Australia
Garry Edwards
Chair - Cattle Australia
Adam Coffey
Deputy Chair - Cattle Australia
John Falkenhagen
President - Goat Industry Council Australia
David Beatty
MLA Group Manager – Productivity & Animal Wellbeing
Richard Shephard
The prioritisation and project review process
Priority progress is updated regularly. Click the steps below to see more information.
Terms of reference are developed by MLA, endorsed by the Red Meat Panel and advertised through the MLA website.
- Calf Loss TOR - Released November 2025
- Buffel Grass TOR - Released November 2025
- Pasture Dieback EOI – Released November 2025
Proposals are assessed by the Expert Panel Chair, as well as a producer and expert panel (independent of MLA).
- Buffel Grass TOR
Panel members from the preliminary review stage reconvene to assess full applications (independent of MLA).
- Methane Mitigation in extensive grazing systems
-
WA Wean-a-lamb
-
Northern Grazing Guidelines
Proposals are developed into project contracts, which are also submitted to the Red Meat Panel for endorsement.
- Foetal and maternal heart rate monitor to detect pregnancy in cattle
- Hand-held electrochemical sensor for phosphorous deficiency detection in cattle
- Multi-valent nanoparticle based vaccine for infectious bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Once contracted, updates on projects derived from producer priorities will be shared here.
Previous cycles of the producer consultation process
How the Producer Consultation Process aligns with MLA’s Strategic Plan 2030
Through RACs and regional committees (NABRC, SALRC, WALRC), producer priorities are reviewed every two years to ensure the strategic plan is aligned to on-farm needs. A core pillar of the Strategic Plan 2030 is RD&A that delivers measurable impact on productivity and sustainability − precisely the focus of MLA’s consultation framework. Producers are actively involved at every stage − from setting RD&A priorities, to reviewing proposals and guiding project delivery − ensuring outcomes are practical, relevant and adopted on-farm.
