New technologies

Tight margins in the red meat processing sector mean limited resources have been devoted to technical innovation and the application of automation to some of the pressing human capital issues facing the sector.

New technologies such as automation offer significant opportunities to solve problems such as improving productivity, increasing yield recovery and remuneration levels, occupational health and safety (OH&S) performance and attracting people with new skills into the industry.

Developing and implementing appropriate technology solutions is critical to improving a processor’s bottom line and ensuring the sustainability of the industry. MLA is committed to foster creativity and support technology providers and processors to innovate and develop new safer, sustainable and cost-efficient solutions to problems affecting the industry.

This goal is articulated through three major objectives:

• Ensuring suitable, cost-effective technologies are developed for processing facilities of both beef and small stock.
• Ensuring support and communication channels are provided to both processing companies and solution providers to develop and implement technologies.
• Ensuring that the successful technologies that are developed are supported through the commercialisation phase.