V.ISC.5500 - Evaluation of the ISC co-funded Digital Product Officer program

Summary

This project evaluated the Digital Product Officer (DPO) Program, a co-funded industry capability initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, data-driven decision making, and feedback systems across the red meat value chain. The evaluation examined DPO projects delivered through two funding rounds, assessing their contribution to increasing uptake of digital tools such as eNVD, myFeedback, and processor feedback systems, while building producer and supply chain capability to use data to improve business performance.

The review assessed the impacts, outcomes, and value generated by the program, including its contribution to ISC and MLA strategic objectives, industry adoption of digital systems, innovation capability, and practice change. Findings from the evaluation will inform future investment decisions and the design of adoption programs that utilise dedicated, co-funded resources to drive digital transformation across the livestock industry.

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness, impact, and value of the Digital Product Officer (DPO) Program in building digital capability across the red meat supply chain, accelerating adoption of digital tools and feedback systems, supporting data-driven decision making and practice change, and informing future investment and delivery models for industry adoption programs.

Key findings

The evaluation found the program was highly successful in building digital innovation capability within participating supply chains and creating a stronger culture of data-driven decision making. Importantly, 84% of partner companies reported that the value delivered exceeded expectations, and most companies intend to retain the role or a similar capability beyond the co-funded period. This demonstrates the program has created sustainable organisational capability rather than short-term project outcomes.

The dedicated DPO resources helped improve producer access to and understanding of feedback data, resulting in practice change. with producers reporting better decision making, increased compliance with specifications, and improved productivity outcomes.

The DPO program significantly increased awareness, capability and adoption of digital tools across participating supply chains. Through producer workshops, one-on-one support and supply chain engagement, the program drove increased uptake of eNVD, digital feedback systems and data-sharing practices, while helping establish a stronger culture of data-driven decision making. The evaluation found the greatest success occurred where businesses were able to closely integrate digital systems across their supply chains, demonstrating the value of dedicated adoption resources in preparing industry for future digital transformation and traceability initiatives.

Benefits to industry

The Digital Product Officer Program has strengthened digital capability across the red meat supply chain by supporting producers, processors and supply chain partners to adopt and utilise digital tools, feedback systems and data-driven decision-making approaches. The program increased awareness and use of carcase feedback and digital consignment systems, improved access to production and performance data, and supported practice changes that enhanced animal health, welfare and productivity outcomes. The evaluation also found that the program accelerated the development of a stronger data culture within participating businesses, improved collaboration across supply chains, and built enduring capability that will continue to deliver benefits beyond the life of the co-funded investments.

MLA action

The findings of this evaluation will be used to inform future investment decisions relating to industry adoption and capability-building programs. Key areas of focus include strengthening program monitoring and evaluation, improving communication and knowledge-sharing across industry, leveraging the value of co-funded adoption networks, and continuing to support the uptake and effective use of digital tools, feedback systems and data-driven decision making throughout the red meat supply chain.

Future research

Future investment on quantifying the long-term value of digital adoption and feedback systems across the supply chain, including the impacts of producer practice change, productivity, animal health and welfare outcomes, and supply chain efficiency should continue. Work to better understand the factors that drive successful adoption of digital tools and to develop consistent monitoring and evaluation approaches that demonstrate the return on investment from capability-building and adoption programs was recommended. The evaluation also highlighted opportunities to continue strengthening digital feedback systems, data utilisation and industry engagement to maximise value from existing and emerging digital technologies.