P.PIP.0583 - OBEX Supply Chain Extension & Adoption Officer Final Report Deliverable

Summary

This project is designed to develop the feedback systems and associated extension material from the meat processor back to the producer with the aim of getting uptake by the producer of improved genetics, nutrition and husbandry practices, so that on-farm productivity is enhanced. That feedback will cover Meat Standards Australia (MSA) data, Animal disease and defect data, Lean Meat Yield percentage (LMY%) and any potential new data sets.

Objectives

• Enhance existing feedback reports covering MSA, animal disease and defect data and investigate inclusion of Lean Meat Yield percentage (LMY%).
• Investigate the possibility of collecting data and reporting on other issues that could affect yield and grading outcomes such as nutrition, animal handling, transport and animal health.
• Understand current on-farm management systems and how they can evolve to use feedback from processors.
• Develop tools that producers can use to maximise the benefit of feedback (i.e. more controlled reproductive practices, better nutrition/trace elements, glycogen loading prior to transporting for slaughter, etc.).
• Identify relevant external tools and systems and implement in the supply chain.
• Identify local champions who are willing to trial innovative practices.
• Benchmark on-farm practices at the commencement and then measure annually to assess productivity improvements and provide case studies for other producers to follow.
• Develop extension material related to the above.

INTERNAL
• Deliver four producer engagement activities (workshops/webinars etc.) per year for two years.
• Attendance at bi-annual Supply Chain and Digital Value Chain Officer workshops to build skills and pool of contacts through networking opportunities within industry, but outside of company.
• Become an advocate for the roll-out of enhanced integrity systems, including LDL and eNVD.

Key findings

• The project highlighted the importance of close collaboration with stakeholders in the supply chain to support the progressive adoption of digital systems.
• Multiple extension approaches are required for impact and are important in achieving objectives.
• By employing varying extension methods throughout the project, it allowed for messaging with greater impact and the ability for deliverables to continue to support and inform long after each reporting period had passed.
• Producers will request information when they know it’s available.
• Processing staff gained a deeper understanding of their suppliers' drivers, and the information they need for practice change.

Benefits to industry

This project will provide a valuable case study for the remainder of industry. The process, tools and material developed would become available for use in the wider industry. Industry will also be able to feed into this project tools and extension materials for testing and verification. Critically this project will allow for the impact of the adoption of feedback to be quantified, which will help drive similar models across industry.

MLA action

Learnings with this program of work will be carried over and used with other current co-funded supply chain officers. Measurable metrics will be included along with base line data to ensure extension activities are driving a digital culture change with all of industry including producers and processors.

Future research

Future investment should be coupled with measurable metrics, where possible, to help guide the program structure, support integration to digital strategy and subsequent measurement of value and effectiveness.
Knowing producers are more likely to adopt change and trust the information when it comes from another producer, working with 'champions' and 'demonstration farms' to increase the impact of messaging and facilitate change will be included in all further projects.