P.PSH.1438 - Gundagai Meat Processors Digital Products Officer Final Report

Summary

This project covers the engagement of a Digital Products Officer (DPO), plus producer activities within Gundagai Meat Processors (GMP) to drive adoption of data and digital technologies, including the adoption and use of electronic National Vendor Declarations (eNVD) and the increasing array of feedback and data being provided to producers. The project will accelerate the adoption of whole-of-value chain digital strategies aligned to the IS2025 strategy. It will drive adoption of Integrity Systems Company (ISC) core programs including eNVD, disease and defect data and producer feedback. It will also assist GMP to build data and digital capability to accelerate this adoption.

Objectives

1. Develop and implement a digital adoption plan for the GMP supply chain, including:
Promoting uptake of ISC’s eNVD app and Future Feedback system.
Running quarterly producer workshops aligned with milestone deliverables.
Building supply chain capability for digital systems and fostering a data-driven culture.
Enhancing feedback system usage to support better on-farm decisions and supply chain value.
Creating tools to help WBE maximise feedback benefits.
Identifying and profiling champions to trial and showcase innovative practices.
Establishing a monitoring and evaluation framework with annual benchmarking.
Producing case studies to demonstrate value to other operations.

2. Submit carcase data to the MLA Group Data Platform.

Key findings

Positive stakeholder experiences are essential for the best possible uptake of new technologies. The attitudes of industry stakeholders have had a significant impact on the uptake of eNVDs in the GMP supply chain. There was no increase in the percentage of digital consignments at the end of the 
project, however awareness was significantly greater. Sheep producers are seeking more information on their carcases and willing to be involved in workshops and other engagement 
activities to improve on farm practices.

Benefits to industry

The DPO will address capability gaps in the processing company and will support the company to encourage their business and suppliers to adopt data and digital systems. The program contributes to achieving MLA’s 2025 Strategic Plan focus area ‘Decisions informed through data and insights’ by building industry capability to respond to and take advantage of data and digital systems.
The project improved awareness, understanding and uptake of digital systems such as eNVD and myFeedback, while also strengthening traceability, data transparency and compliance across the supply chain. It established a practical framework for processor-led digital extension and increased producer knowledge of animal health data, market access and Meat Standards Australia (MSA) performance.

MLA action

Further investment is continued in this area with more Digital Product Officers being co-funded across industry and greater UX testing within the eNVD program across all user types.

Future research

The addition of several DPO’s working within lamb supply chains would be beneficial for eNVD uptake and driving increased data culture in the sheep industry. The appetite for feedback is evident among sheep producers and there are opportunities to capitalise on more engagement and digital 
feedback systems to drive value throughout the supply chain.