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Producer Investment Call
MLA’s Producer Investment Call is a crucial step in MLA’s producer consultation process. This is where levy payers can have their say on priority areas for MLA to invest in.
The Producer Investment Call is designed to maximise producer input, give sufficient time for researchers to write effective research proposals and engage producers for input and accommodate MLA’s strategic partnerships and MDC funding where appropriate.
How does the Producer Investment Call work?
The Research Advisory Councils submit research, development and adoption (RD&A) priorities to MLA every two years. MLA provides feedback on these priorities before the Extended Red Meat Panel workshop is held. This workshop brings together the Regional Committee Chairs, the Research Advisory Council Chairs, the Red Meat Panel (RMP) and the relevant MLA Program Managers. At this workshop, a list of national RD&A priorities is finalised.
From here, the relevant MLA Program Managers develop a ‘Terms of Reference’ (TOR), incorporating the feedback they received at the workshop. The TOR outlines the scope and impact of a project required to meet the RD&A priorities. Each TOR is submitted to the RMP for feedback and endorsement. Once the TOR is approved by the RMP, a Producer Investment Call is announced.
A call for applications is announced encouraging the submission of preliminary applications for RD&A projects aligned with the Terms of Reference for funding consideration.
An Expert Panel and producer representatives assess the applications and select which projects to short list for potential funding, ensuring that the RD&A activities in each project will address the priorities set out in the producer consultation process.
Short listed applicants are required to complete a detailed application for funding in relation to their project. Detailed applications are assessed by the Expert Panel and recommended for funding by MLA. These are then subject to MLA’s standard project approval processes.
2022–24 Producer Investment Call
Determining and realising the value proposition for the southern feedbase
MLA is seeking preliminary proposals for RD&A projects that will identify and address productivity gaps in a range of pasture systems across southern Australia farming and grazing systems.
The aim of this investment call is to fund projects that will identify and address productivity gaps in a range of pasture systems across southern Australia farming and grazing systems. Specifically, these projects are to be conducted in regions represented by the Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC).
Determining and realising the value proposition for the southern feedbase - Terms of Reference
Deadline for submissions
Preliminary proposals must be received by MLA before 11.59pm AEST Thursday 1 August 2024. Late proposals will not be accepted.
Use the preliminary proposal template available here, and submit proposals electronically to MLA at: projectcall@mla.com.au
Applicants should carefully review this page and the MLA Project Funding Application Guidelines before completing their preliminary or detailed project application.
Further information
To register for the information session, please send an email to Allan Peake on the details below.
If you have questions about these terms of reference, contact:
Allan Peake
Program Manager – Sustainable Feedbase Resources
Email: apeake@mla.com.au
P: +61 (7) 3620 5265 M: +61 429 881 137
Currently, the Producer Investment Call is flexible, with MLA only calling for projects as funding becomes available and for specific high priority investment areas.
See Producer funding opportunities or Current MLA tenders for more information.
How the Call aligns with MLA’s Strategic Plan
Under MLA’s Strategic Plan, one of our guiding principles is to direct resources into fewer, higher-impact programs of work that will deliver the best outcomes for industry (fewer, bigger, bolder).
Based on this principle, longer-term, collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects have recently been developed to tackle some of industry’s key priorities, such as lamb survival, calf survival and associated reproductive performance (as identified through the producer consultation process). These projects are longer-term programs of work and are expected to run through the 2023–24 year and beyond.
As we deliver on the Strategic Plan, all parts of MLA are continuing to change the way we plan and deliver our work, with a goal of achieving the greatest impact for levy-payers – and the research, development and adoption programs that are critical to the success of the strategy.
The last Producer Investment Call process was reflective of this shift in strategic approach – with a focus on longer-term, three-to-five year, collaborative and multi-disciplinary programs of work. These larger-scale, longer-term projects are now underway and utilise a significant portion of the research funding for 2023–24. As such, there will not be an open call for new R&D projects in the 2023-24 year.
More information:
Georgie Townsend
Program Manager – Consultation
E: gtownsend@mla.com.au
P: +61 436 607 166
