Goats on the Move – a note from John Falkenhagen, GICA President
11 June 2025
This year marks a juncture for the strategic direction of the Australian goat industry. It’s timely to highlight the role the Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) plays to ensure the goat industry is at the table for important discussions on the industry’s future, including oversight of levy investment and input into industry policies.
I also want to take the opportunity to reiterate the importance of stepping up to have your voice heard. GICA is representative of goat producers across all regions and commodities, and there are several ways you can get involved. We also work with industry committees and groups you can join – keep reading to find out how.
Levy investment
The Red Meat Advisory Council’s Red Meat 2030 plan has reached a midway review point, coinciding with a new five-year strategic plan for Meat & Livestock Australia which sets the direction for investment in research, development and adoption (RD&A) initiatives. The Goat Industry Strategic Plan will also undergo a midterm review in the latter half of this year.
Through GICA, representatives from across the goat industry have had strong input on the development of the new MLA Strategic Plan and we are happy with where it’s landed – our discussions have reflected priorities for the goat industry such as environment, welfare and capacity building.
In addition to the strategy itself, GICA engages regularly with MLA and Animal Health Australia (AHA) to ensure projects are on track to deliver impact for the industry.
In this edition of Goats on the Move, you’ll hear from the newest members of the Goat Industry Research, Development and Adoption Committee (GIRDAC), an independent group that provides advisory and technical support on goat industry RD&A. As part of the annual cycle, MLA is calling for two new harvested rangeland goat producers to fill committee positions, and I encourage you to consider the opportunity if this is for you.
Policies
GICA also reviews and refreshes policies on an ongoing basis. You can have input on these policies through your member organisations, including State Farming Organisations and Commodity Groups.
The next five years for our industry will be shaped by the people who contribute to these initiatives and organisations. Now is the time to get involved and have your say.
