P.PSH.1182 - Integrated digital connectivity solutions for an integrated beef business
The Australian red meat industry faces significant connectivity challenges, particularly in remote regions, where unreliable and slow digital infrastructure hinders productivity and increases costs.
| Project start date: | 30 May 2019 |
| Project end date: | 21 February 2025 |
| Publication date: | 22 April 2025 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Download Report
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Summary
This project successfully delivered a hybrid technological approach to enhancing connectivity infrastructure on remote cattle stations. The strategy included leveraging the high-speed fibre network from Singapore to Townsville, accessed from Cloncurry, Queensland, and augmenting it with Starlink services and 4G boosters. The goal of this project was to investigate the benefits of integrating remote properties with central management and reporting systems.
Objectives
This project aimed to demonstrate an economically viable method of connecting rural agricultural business units to their wider supply chain. The key objective was to create a mixed technology internet link to connect Stanbroke business locations to high-speed internet so that the technology can be evaluated and used by other producers/lot feeders/processors.
Key findings
The learnings from this project provide a high level case study for those considering improving digital connectivity particularly in remote regions. Whilst innovations and new to market ag-tech continue to be demonstrated to the livestock industry this project again highlights the importance of underlying connectivity to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve workforce retention industry-wide.
Benefits to industry
The integration of advanced digital tools and real-time data collection illustrates the potential for better livestock management, leading to improved productivity and supply chain transparency. Additionally, the project showcases a viable approach to overcoming rural connectivity challenges, supporting broader adoption of ag-tech solutions that will help to future-proof the industry.
MLA action
Continue to partner with industry and technology partners to improve access to fit for purpose digital tools.
Future research
From this research, it can be clearly seen that there are strong benefits to be gained from investing in connectivity infrastructure for remote agricultural businesses. Additional future work could focus on further validating these findings in different geographical contexts and with any new technologies that may come online after the publishing of this report and the potential for collaborative connectivity infrastructure.
More information
| Project manager: | John McGuren |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Stanbroke Pty Ltd |
