Red meat industry urges people to get more facts in their diet

Red Meat, Green Facts, a ‘fast-facts’ resource to promote the red meat industry’s credentials and empower Australia’s red meat advocates, has been launched at Beef Australia 2021 by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

The new producer pocket guide and online resource provides important information about cattle, sheep and goat production in Australia, with a particular focus on animal welfare, protecting the environment and health and nutrition.

MLA Managing Director, Jason Strong, said while Australia’s red meat industry had world-leading production systems, was the custodian for half of Australia’s land mass, and played a vital and sustainable role in feeding Australians and the world, frustratingly, we continue to see misconceptions, inaccuracies and criticisms of our industry gain traction.

“Never has it been more important for us to work together across our industry to be proactive and positive about what we do with the facts to counter any negative narrative,” Mr Strong said.

“The reality is, our industry is leading the way in the challenge to lower emissions, to improve productivity, to constantly improve animal welfare and in doing that, we produce a uniquely nutrient-dense and natural protein of the highest quality.

“It is vital our industry is transparent and proud of our ongoing achievements in caring for our land, animals and products, with the evidence to back it up.”

Mr Strong said with this front of mind, MLA has produced Red Meat, Green Facts. It brings together clear, evidence-based messages to empower Australia’s red meat advocates on topics such as the environment, animal welfare, nutrition and plant-based fake meats.”

“For MLA, this work around red meat positioning forms a critical part of our current strategic output. Our consumer and community insights continue to show that perceptions of the red meat industry are improving,” Mr Strong said.

“However, consumers are less informed about the specifics, and are increasingly turning to a wide variety of sources for information. The red meat industry has a good story to tell, and if we don’t start to tell it a little better, it’s a given that someone less qualified or with an anti-meat agenda will.

“Underpinning Australian red meat’s popularity and quality are the world-leading practices our producers use on-farm, every single day.

“Red meat, green facts highlights the industry’s achievements, targets, stringent standards and most importantly provides science based facts about how red meat is produced.”

“We want our story to reflect the positivity of our industry’s contribution – around long-term sustainability, people’s health, growing our economy and leaving the land in better shape than we found it. That’s how we will resonate with the community most successfully.

“We want those in our industry to use this as a basis for engaging in conversations with your communities and networks. Let’s be on the front foot, let’s be positive about what we do, let’s be proud of what we produce, and let’s be passionate advocates in the promotion our industry.”

Five Green Facts about the red meat and livestock industry:

1. The Australian beef industry has more than halved GHG emissions since 2005. This reduction in GHG is larger than any other sector in Australia.
2. Most of Australia’s lad mass cannot support any other food production than red meat – just 8% of Australia’s land mass is suitable for cropping.
3. Eating lean red meat 3-4 times a week is recommended by nutritionists for a healthy balanced diet and this consumption is environmentally sustainable.
4. Red meat is a natural product, while plant-based fake meat products are highly processed.
5. Australia’s animal welfare standards are some of the most stringent in the world.

For more information on Red Meat, Green Facts visit redmeatgreenfacts.com.au

Red Meat, Green Facts will officially be launched this at MLA’s Sundowner event at Beef Australia 2021 in Rockhampton.

MLA’s Sustainability Update 2021

MLA has a broad program of work and investments around sustainability across the red meat supply chain as aligned to industry’s priority areas.

Sustainability includes the production of livestock in a way that is environmentally, socially and financially responsible with respect to our people, our animals and our natural resources, today and for future generations.

To coincide with Beef Australia 2021, MLA has released its Sustainability Update 2021. As a service provider to the Australian red meat and livestock industry, MLA is regularly asked about our sustainability investments and how they support global and industry’s strategic objectives. This document outlines these objectives and captures in one place the significant level of MLA’s investments in sustainability across the red meat supply chain.

This report demonstrates our investments in sustainability, our commitment to transparency of our production systems, and our unwavering focus on continuous improvement through proactive adoption and practice change.

Read a copy of MLA’s Sustainability Update 2021.