L.WAL.2201 - WALRC Regional Funds Management 2021-22

Summary

This agreement covers the FY 2021-22 allocation of funds for the Western Australian Livestock Research Council (WALRC) regional engagement and for WALRC to administer these funds on
behalf of MLA.

MLA has a regional consultation structure that engages producers for input into MLA’s allocation of annual investments in research, development and adoption (RD&A), benefiting grassfed beef and sheepmeat producers. WALRC is one of three research advisory councils in MLA’s consultation framework, representing inputs from Western Australian producers. WALRC
provides a forum for red meat industry and RD&A agencies to review, debate and consolidate RD&A priorities that emerge the consultation process.

Each year, MLA allocates funding to cover sitting fees, travel and meeting expenses for the producer members of WALRC, as well as for WALRC Council operations. As indicated above, this agreement covers the FY 2021-22 allocation of funds, which will be administered by WALRC on behalf of MLA. The specific purposes for which the funding may be used are listed in the
“Additional details” section below.

Objectives

1. The WALRC Executive Officer will request and process invoices from each WALRC producer member who attends regional forums and full WALRC meetings and pay the invoices in accordance with these Guidelines.
2. Assist in ensuring MLA is notified of all WALRC meetings, including council meetings, and provides a minimum of three weeks notice so that MLA has the opportunity to address each meeting to provide updates on Investment Call progress and/or RD&A investments.
3. The WALRC Chair and producer representative to be involved in the Red Meat Panel meetings.
4. Manage consultation funds in accordance with these Guidelines. Funds may not be used to cover expenditure outside of these Guidelines, unless written approval has been obtained from MLA prior to expenditure.
5. Deliver regional priorities for investment in grassfed beef and sheepmeat RD&A to MLA at a time agreed with the Program Manager – Consultation.
6. Deliver Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) priorities in a format as requested to MLA at a time agreed with the Project Manager - PDS Program.
7. Provide a forum for the beef and sheep industry and research, development and adoption (RD&A) agencies to review, debate and consolidate RD&A priorities that emerge from the regional forums and provide the outputs to MLA in a pre-determined template.
8. Foster effective communication of RD&A outcomes and provide engagement for continued RD&A service provision.
9. M&E status reports to be provided every quarter, for MLA internal purposes, including WALRC meetings, locations and number of attendees data.
10. The Council Secretariat will distribute updates and information on the Investment Call and the Consultation Framework, and other information deemed relevant by MLA, to its membership base. Including distribution of an MLA Regional Consultation Framework annual satisfaction survey. MLA will send WALRC the survey for circulation and will collate results

Key findings

MLA uses the outcomes from the Priority setting process to inform investment decisions for on farm research.

Benefits to industry

The Research Council provides a critical link between researchers, stakeholders and MLA to identify relevant research topics for investment for both sheep and beef industries.

MLA action

MLA has used the information from the priority setting process to inform investment in RD&A for on farm productivity.

Future research

WALRC funds management projects are a recurring requirement of the Consultation program.