Projects that qualify
The scope for projects covered by the Partners in Innovation Program is broad and may cover innovation at any stage of development, in any aspect of the production, processing, storage, transport, retailing and marketing of meat and livestock (and related co-products).
Projects may arise from ideas from the proposing company, or MLA may seek expressions of interest to advance the development of innovations arising from research and development (R&D) programs.
Projects will generally fit into one of the following two categories:
Innovation demonstration projects
These projects include those where a partner company wishes to implement or demonstrate the outcomes of an R&D project or to demonstrate the adoption of new and innovative technologies in the Australian environment.
They may involve modifying and adapting the outcomes of previous R&D outcomes to suit their own business needs. As the objective of these projects is to facilitate adoption of innovations across the Australian industry, outcomes will be made available for broader industry dissemination.
Examples of projects that fit within this category are:
- Implementation of new best practice approaches and technologies to reduce environmental impacts
- Application of improved on-farm production methods such as new genetic evaluation procedures
- Implementation of innovative supply chain management technologies and systems to improve industry competitiveness and consumer confidence
- Integrating and implementing improved data management and information tools for the management of businesses in the Australian red meat supply chain
- Development of benchmarking methodologies for improving production and processing efficiency
Commercial innovation projects
These projects may focus on the development of new technologies, processes, products or concepts that will subsequently become available to the industry via appropriate commercialisation strategies.
Where commercially valuable intellectual property is developed, both the partners and MLA share in the commercial returns via royalties, licensing agreements, sale of intellectual property, etc.
Examples of projects that fit within this category are:
- Development of new processes for extracting high value co-products for export into the pharmaceutical markets of Europe and USA
- Breeding new pasture plant varieties to improve the efficiency of livestock production and increase pasture utilisation
- Developing new tools for the diagnosis and treatment of animal disease
- Development of frontier processing technologies that will significantly improve efficiency, yield and occupational health and safety in meat processing plants
- Establishing innovative animal management practices to reduce impacts on biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of Australia’s natural resources
- Trialling of new meat retailing concepts and technologies that satisfy changing consumer needs
- Development of significantly new red meat value added products, including functional foods to promote and maintain good health.