You are here: Home> Corporate sustainability > The Australian community
“With MLA’s postgraduate scholarship I am researching potential treatments to alleviate fluoroacetate poisoning which can occur in some northern beef regions.” Carl Davis, PhD student at CSIRO Livestock Industries in Brisbane with MLA Manager Strategic Science, Terry Longhurst.
enlarge
THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY
We invested $69 million in 2007–08 in research to directly benefit the red meat industry. This research is underpinned by a fundamental need to meet community and consumer expectations.
BUILDING KNOW-HOW
We invest in the development of world-class scientists and researchers to build Australia’s body of research and develop human capabilities.
We completed 480 R&D projects last year and began 444 which not only have direct benefit for the red meat industry but contribute to the broader bank of scientific knowledge in Australia and around the globe.
In a joint submission by the research and development corporations (RDCs) this year to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations’ Chairs Submission to the National Innovation System Review - we outlined the importance of innovation capability in Australia to influence the ‘productive performance of a national economy, and contribute to higher living standards’. The report outlined how the RDCs strengthen the innovation system in Australia by coordinating industry and government objectives, removing disincentives associated with market failures and delivering incentives from government funding; supporting the development of scientists and R&D adoption services; and providing a conduit through which each of the elements – institutions, incentives and human resources – interact for greatest national benefit. We also reinforced the importance of having a well developed innovation system to enable benefits to be derived from the global stock of world knowledge – see here for more on our innovation strategy to have well trained scientists, a technologically capable workforce and active engagement in R&D and innovation.
| TRAINING FUTURE RESEARCHERS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | |
| Scholarship | $562,007 (26) | $522,920 (31) | $411,585 (23) |
| Postdoctoral | $244,000 (2) | $243,710 (3) | |
| Total | $562,007 | $766,920 | $655,295 |
We support the bridge from education to agricultural research through our postgraduate program and various scholarships. The scholarship program supports students doing postgraduate studies for the three years of their candidature. Upon completion, more than 70 per cent of students supported by this scheme continue to work within the meat and livestock industry.
IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS
An important component of our research is to improve working conditions to reduce work-related injuries and illness.
During 2007–08 we assisted the processing sector to reduce occupational health and safety risk by jointly developing three manual assist devices to extend the working life of processing workers beyond 40 years of age – see here for more detail.
On-farm, we tested the impact of wearing protective helmets on the risk of horseback riders developing heat illness or reducing their cognitive function. The research found the use of helmets did not increase the risk, while delivering the obvious safety benefits in the event of an accident. The work also tested commonly used protective helmets for rider safety and comfort and provided general recommendations for reducing the risk of heat stress.
SAFE FOOD
Our meat safety program supports SAFEMEAT, a partnership between the Australian and State governments and all sectors of the red meat industry. SAFEMEAT oversees and promotes sound management systems to deliver safe and hygienic product to market and implements sound crisis management principles and strategies.
We have developed a comprehensive suite of tools and systems for improved food safety based on innovative science, outcomes-based regulation and customer expectations. In an independent review of our food safety program by the Centre for International Economics (CIE), it was estimated the program reduces illness and death resulting from listeriosis. This accounts for more than $281 million in social benefits over 30 years (1998–2028, CIE report: Food safety: predictive microbiology – the industry impact, 2007).
HEALTHY AUSTRALIANS
We undertake science-based research and provide information on red meat’s health and nutritional value to healthcare professionals and consumers. Our continued communications since 2001 about the importance of red meat 3–4 times a week have:
- contributed to the 540,000 Australians successfully losing weight on the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet (based on CSIRO research with MLA supported studies)
- improved the clinical management of chronic diet-related conditions such as obesity, coronary heart disease and hypertension that currently cost the nation more than $6 billion annually
(CIE report: Red meat nutrition marketing – the industry impact, 2008)
During the year we also completed new research that demonstrated the positive health impact of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet on men and the negative impacts of low iron in young women.
Testing the impact of wearing protective helmets on the risk of developing heat illness or reducing cognitive function.
