P.PSH.1290 - P.PSH.1290 Review of Advanced (Livestock and Carcase) Imaging Technologies

Summary

Substantial in-roads have been made in the development and commercialisation of visioning technologies in the Australian red meat industry. Visioning is fundamental to the extensive programs of work covering both automation and objective measurement. This project aims to draw upon insights from these previous and current programs of work, focusing in on the results of technical feasibility trials, to test the value propositions of increased accuracy of cutting lines, objective eating quality grading across multiple sectors of the supply chain, animal health inspection and the inspection of cartons for product integrity and quality. Focusing this technology towards commercial adoption, strong consideration will be given to assessing service provider business models for industry alignment and rapid commercial acceleration.

Objectives

The objectives of the project were to:

• Identify, assess and prioritise for commercial application:
• relevant technologies from outside the industry
• potential service providers.

Determine solution desirability within industry:

• readiness for value propositions from visioning-driven solutions.
• Build a progressive adoption strategy for red meat companies throughout the project.
• Define a business model, relevant to solution providers.
• Determine the business case and approximate financial value to the industry.
• Design pilot projects for implementation outside this project.
  
  

Key findings

Suppliers of technology often focus on their technology. Considerations before adoption of a technology include:
• What decision or process is this supporting?
• Does it fit into culture, strategy and value proposition for the target markets?
• What additional value does the technology create over current processes?
• If data is created, how and who is analysing the data in a timely manner to support the decision process?
From an RD&E perspective, questions include:
• Does the technology work in the existing system?
• If system changes are required, is this a completely new system or can it be adapted?
• Does the technology offer opportunity, however exact deployment of where and how it will work needs further investigation (this is taken as needing ‘development’)?
• Does the technology work, but companies are unsure if they will invest? What is the reason behind the hesitancy?

Benefits to industry

The project has reviewed an extensive number of existing technologies from co-biotics to automation to robotics and identified key areas and technologies which have the ability to improve profitability and productivity for the entire red meat value chain in Australia. Labour availability and cost of labour is and will continue to be a major resource constraint. This report identifies pathways and areas to focus future RD&E funds to maximise benefits.

MLA action

This project has helped inform the MLA Objective Measurement priorities and business plan.

Future research

Bigger bolder innovation projects are required to seize the value opportunities industry is identifying. This requires implementation of RD&E in a way that enables bigger bolder inputs to create significantly greater return for the Australian red-meat industry. Avoiding a shotgun approach to R&D innovation is required and needs structured guidance to ensure transformational change. A more integrated approach to integrating visioning and assistive technologies in the following areas is recommended:
• Integration of Objective Measurement (OM) technologies along the entire supply chain.
• Integration of decision support for supply chain alignment.
• Development and adoption of technologies to enable supply chain alignment.
• Development and adoption of technologies that create productivity gains.