L.EDG.2401 - EDGEnetwork support and coordination FY24-26

Summary

The EDGEnetwork is one of MLA’s key short-term training programs, providing practical workshops to red meat producers across Australia to gain knowledge and develop skills to improve their livestock enterprises. This includes Business EDGE, Breeding EDGE, Nutrition EDGE, GLM EDGE and Grazing Fundamentals, and Carbon EDGE.

The EDGEnetwork is an important vehicle to deliver key research outcomes and best practice management training to industry. Participants learn through 1-3 day workshops incorporating group-based activities and tools that help them to apply new information to their own situation with the support of MLA-endorsed, expert facilitators.

EDGEworkshops are a first step towards practice change and a feeder activity for programs such as Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS), Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS) and Northern Breeding Business (NB2).

Objectives

The purpose of this project was to: 

1. Support MLA staff and EDGEnetwork deliverers in managing and growing the network, 
   including roll out of new EDGEnetwork packages, to help achieve the targets in MLA’s annual Producer Adoption Business Plan.
2. The Consultant will maintain records of workshops and provide MER data required for MLA to monitor and measure impact from the EDGEnetwork program in alignment with MLA’s MER Framework.
3. The Consultant will help to clarify and document processes for the network, including information and resources needed for any future Coordinators/Project Managers.

Key findings

Based on MLA's Producer Outcomes report, EDGE has    delivered    $559.9M    in total net benefits    to participating    producers as a    result of workshops attended  between 2015–2024. This includes $48.3M of additional net benefits identified    
in 2024. MLA’s investment in EDGE since 2015 has delivered $35.8M* in annual net benefits to producers in 2024–25.

Benefits to industry

The EDGEnetwork provides many benefits for producers, and the coordination of the network ensures:

• consistent, high quality and relevant information is delivered to producers Australia-wide
• producers can access the latest R&D in a practical format, with direct application to their business
• consistent feedback and reporting can be used for ongoing improvement to EDGEnetwork materials and workshops.

MLA action

MLA continues to invest in the EDGEnetwork through coordination, upskilling of deliverers and development/updates to packages.

Future research

Future investment in an EDGE Coordinator will ensure continued successful operations and expansion of the EDGEnetwork.