V.TEC.1727 - Independent evaluation of RD&A priorities and investment Post-ALMTech: Executive summary

Summary

This project seeks an independent review of the ALMTech program, with a focus on post-ALMTech Program options to ensure the critical functions are supported in such a way to maximise impact of the ALMTech I & II programs. The risk is without the required ongoing support of those critical functions and roles that is currently provided by ALMTech, that new measurement technologies and traits close to adoption may not be implemented cost effectively in the foreseeable future. The deliverable of the project will be a final report (confidential to MLA, and public version) with recommendations to MLA on options and potential funding mechanisms for MLA’s OM program to support post-ALMTech.

Objectives

This project provides an independent review of the ALMTech program with a focus on post-ALMTech options to ensure the critical functions are supported in such a way to maximise impact of the ALMTech I & II programs.

Key findings

The review identified key highlights from the ALMTech program as including the value of the collaborative approach it provided in bringing together key players along the supply chain, across species (lamb, beef and pork) and across industry to work toward achievement of shared goals, and the success of the program in fast tracking the development and commercialisation of new objective measurement technologies.

Benefits to industry

According to findings from the ALMTech Economic Evaluation Exit Report (Griffith, 2023), expected benefits to the red meat industry from maximising the legacy of the ALMTech program will primarily relate to the use of objective measurement data for genetic improvement, and the use of objective measurement of live animals to improve compliance with grid specifications.

Industry benefits from improving compliance with grid specifications from on-farm measures involves developing, supporting and promoting live animal data capture mechanisms that allow farmers to make improved decisions around compliance with market specifications.

MLA action

The recommendations across the 10 priority areas have been aggregated into five proposed investment pillars to support development of an MLA Board Pitch for future investment:

Pillar 1: Generating the data
Pillar 2: Creating value from the data
Pillar 3: Data flow and management
Pillar 4: Language and standards
Pillar 5: Exploratory research

Future research

The recommendations of the independent review will be evaluated and those supported R&D projects will be further invested in to support post-ALMTech priorities.