A.BSF.0008 - Understanding Sustainability Impacts of Feed Sourcing in the Australian Red Meat Industry
Did you know of the estimated 6.51mt of purchased feed assessed, approximately 97% was estimated to be sourced domestically.
| Project start date: | 26 May 2026 |
| Project end date: | 31 January 2027 |
| Publication date: | 06 October 2026 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
Summary
Feed is a major input to Australian beef production and can affect environmental impacts, business resilience, supply chains and market confidence. This project was undertaken to provide MLA and the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework steering committee a clear overview of how feed is currently sourced, the main risks and opportunities linked to feed, and where future effort may be needed. The work reviewed published information and industry data, estimated feed use across grass-fed and grain-fed beef systems, assessed environmental, social and economic issues, and considered how climate change may affect feed supply. The project found that feed commodities are mostly sourced domestically, with imported ingredients making up a small share of total feed use. Key risks relate to water use in some domestic cropping systems, imported palm-based products, future climate pressure on pasture and grain supply, and rising input costs. The work also reiterated previous findings that Australian beef makes a positive contribution to human-edible protein supply. These results provide industry with a baseline for decision making, sustainability reporting, risk management and future research priorities.
Objectives
This project aimed to assess feed sourcing practices across the Australian red meat industry, including environmental, economic, and social implications across domestic and international supply chains. It also evaluated the interdependencies between the pasture, grains, and beef industries, alongside implications for resilience, resource utilisation, and food security. In addition, the project identified climate-related risks and opportunities, and relevant industry-scale indicators aligned with global reporting frameworks.
Key findings
The Australian beef industry uses approximately 6.5 million tonnes of feed annually, of which approximately 97% was estimated to be sourced domestically. Key sustainability risks related to feed sourcing are concentrated in water-intensive commodities, imported palm-based products with deforestation and labour risks, exposure to rising feed and input costs, and climate-driven pressure on pasture and grain availability, although the complementary grass- and grain-fed systems provide some resilience to supply shocks.
Benefits to industry
The project provides industry with a consolidated evidence base on feed sourcing, sustainability impacts and climate-related risks, supporting more informed decision making, risk management, sustainability reporting and stakeholder communications. It also identifies priority areas for future research and targeted action.
MLA action
MLA will consider the future research and recommendations required to assist industry in managing any sustainability risks associated with feed sourcing.
Future research
Priority actions are to: forecast long-term demand for feed commodities, particularly Australian grains, across the beef and other livestock industries to identify when domestic demand may approach or exceed supply; establish and regularly update an industry-wide dataset covering feed volumes, ration composition, geographic origin, imported ingredients and associated sustainability risks; and develop a beef-industry feed ingredient database containing current environmental impact data. Together, these actions would strengthen supply and sustainability risk monitoring and enable more consistent, lower-cost reporting, particularly as mandatory Scope 3 reporting expands.
More information
| Project manager: | Jacob Betros |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
