Evaluation of the Integrity Systems Company co-funded resources program

Summary

In 2017, the Integrity Systems Company (ISC) board approved funding for up to 15 co-funded Supply Chain Feedback Extension Officer (SCFEO) positions.

The purpose of these positions was to support the development and implementation of feedback systems and associated extension materials to improve producer decision making and management practices for enhanced farm productivity.

The program evolved to also include Digital Supply Chain Officer (DSCO) and Digital Marketing Officer (DMO) roles to provide the specific support required within individual partner businesses to improve data use and insights for decision making, and to support data integrity systems.

Objectives

The main aims of the project were to:

• review the performance of each role
• assess the triple bottom line impacts of the program
• identify internal MLA contribution to impact
• recommend changes for program improvement.

Key findings

• Companies supported through the co-funded resources program have implemented new, innovative digital solutions that have led to improvements in the feedback provided to buyers and suppliers.
• There is opportunity to embed new digital innovations into day-to-day company operations by building capability to support utilisation of digital innovations to deliver on company priorities.
• The companies also made progress in developing feedback systems to suppliers/producers to enable carcase quality and disease/defect data to be provided on an individual carcase basis.
• While this is still an area that requires further work to link feedback to on-farm practice change and improvements in carcase quality, the foundations have been built to further progress impact in this area over coming years.

Benefits to industry

The main conclusion from the evaluation is that the program has been very successful in supporting partner companies to drive digital innovation capability across the supply chain.

There is evidence to show that companies supported through the co-funded resources program have implemented new, innovative digital solutions to collect, integrate, analyse, store and visualise data across different parts of the supply chain, from livestock procurement through to marketing the end product.

MLA action

MLA is investigating the appointment of an overall program manager to lead the program, drive the strategic direction and implementation of the program and manage all positions, along with a network of internal MLA/ISC mentors who are assigned to individual roles according to specific knowledge and skill areas required to add maximum value to each role.

Future research

Future research should include:

• increasing strategic planning around where investment is targeted to achieve program objectives
• developing a program Communication and Engagement Plan to support a more strategic approach to communication and engagement
• improving the ability of both MLA and partner companies to measure and report on the success of program investment through defined monitoring and evaluation processes that are aligned to the MLA triple bottom line
• working with partner companies to review opportunities to increase adoption of available feedback by buyers and suppliers to improve livestock procurement and farm management decision making.