L.GEN.1702 - DPI Agriculture - National Livestock Genetics Consortium

Summary

The National Livestock Genetics Consortium is designed to provide a new structure for investment that will enable the industry to increase genetic gain and adoption to underpin profitability through the beef and sheep value chains.

Members of the NLG Consortium will be part of world-leading genetic research and development, evaluation and delivery services. The NLG Consortium will ensure coordinated research delivery, reducing timelines and delivery costs of each partner operating separately. It will deliver a seamless transfer of information to industry and provide easy-to-use products and services.

Objectives

- Increase adoption of genetic technologies by industry.
- Improve access to industry databases with better functionality and interaction.
- Enable greater engagement in data acquisition, including commercial information, such as commercial livestock and processing data.
- Deliver genetic innovations to industry in a timely, coordinated manner.
- Support the existing and develop new reference populations to underpin future research and development.
- Initiate governance structures that will enable greater co-ordination of investment, improved communication, accountability and transparency in delivery.

Benefits to industry

Through development of a NLG Consortium, the aim is to increase the level of investment in genetic and genomic research, development and adoption (RD&A) projects in the Australian beef and lamb industries from the currently funded $18.3 million up to $70 million over five years. This includes significant co-investment that could be matched by industry and government sources, which includes continual funding as existing projects finish and new projects commence.

MLA action

MLA will continue to facilitate and run the National Livestock Genetics Consortium with industry support to increase the level of investment in genomic research, development and adoption.

Future research

MLA will continue to facilitate and run the National Livestock Genetics Consortium with industry support to increase the level of investment in genomic research, development and adoption.