Leather Cattle Co recognised as one of the most sustainable cattle enterprises globally

Leather Cattle Co, a grassfed and EU certified humane cattle enterprise from Central Queensland, has been awarded as the Success Through Collaboration Award at the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The Success Through Collaboration Award is awarded to the business that best exemplifies the foundational principles and goals of Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and drives collaborative efforts to advance beef sustainability.

For Melinee and Rob Leather who own and operate Leather Cattle Co, evidence of the relationship between environmental health and the prosperity of grazing enterprises drives them prioritise and invest in sustainability across their beef business.

Leading by example, Leather Cattle Co implements positive change by building extension and adoption networks throughout their community in order to enhance, strengthen and protect not only their business but build the capacity of their broader industry.

With strong links to industry, producer, and community networks, the reach and exposure of outcomes are shared through media and presentation opportunities.

“What really brought our local community together was realising that we are a like-minded group of producers that wanted to have a focus around sustainability," Ms Leather said.

"We could see that sustainability for the beef industry was going to be something that was going to be critical for us going forward.

"We were starting to see some really significant changes with the climate, we felt like we were getting hotter and drier as our community had been through some pretty prolonged droughts here in Queensland.

"So, producers really wanted to get together and have a platform where they could share learnings, share information around technology."

All of the works they undertake on their properties showcase the Leather's belief that productive cattle enterprises can go hand in hand with addressing climate change.

“Beef producers manage over 50% of Australia's land mass, so we have got a huge responsibility to make sure that we are managing it collaboratively and sustainably,” Ms Leather said.

“It is an absolute privilege to be recognised with this award. It is organisations like the [Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef] GRSB that we look to in order to define our sustainability goals and actions.”

President of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Bob Lowe spoke of Melanie Leather and Leather Cattle Co at the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef awards on October 2.

“Leading by example, Melinee Leather, Leather Cattle Co, strives to implement positive change by building extension and adoption networks to enhance, strengthen and protect not only their business but build the capacity of their broader industry,” Mr Lowe said.

“Melinee and Leather Cattle Co have received this global award as they have demonstrated practical steps towards achievement of the GRSB’s goals.”