FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE: - NZIFST - The New Zealand Institute of ...

Red meat sector strategy stocktakeMIA NEWSWork to build on the recommendations of the Red Meat Sector Strategy (RMSS) is underway, as outlined in the recent release of the firstquarterly report of the Strategy Coordination Group (SCG). Tim Ritchie, Meat Industry Association chief executive since 2007, is a member of thegroup and talks to Food NZ about progress to date.The SCG was formed to promote, advise, monitor and report on the implementationof the RMSS – effectively to help ensure that the RMSS didnot just become another document sitting on shelves, Tim Ritchie says.The SCG’s September quarterly report showed that meat processorshave already initiated, through the MIA, a number of collaborativeprojects aimed at achieving the required ‘informed, aligned behaviourchange’ identified in the RMSS.The MIA initiatives discussed in the report cover three areas: meat scienceand processing collaboration; market research collaboration; andcompliance costs.Meat Research Fund establishedIn the area of meat science and processing collaboration, MIA and itsmembers have established the Meat Research Fund (MRF), a model forjointly managing collectively funded meat science projects that enablesgroups of like-minded companies to propose, design and commissionresearch on specific meat science problems or opportunities. This replacesthe former Meat Industry Research Institute (MIRINZ) Inc.Four MRF projects have already been established and commenced byresearch providers, with funding support from the Ministry of Scienceand Innovation. This first tranche of projects is concerned with improvingmeat quality, including tenderness, shelf life and meat colour.Ritchie explains that the MRF model builds upon the well-establishedOvine Automation Consortium, which is looking into robotic processing,and Ovis Management Ltd, tasked with minimising the incidenceof sheep measles in NZ.which identified areas where the SCG considers there are immediateopportunities to promote and facilitate further consideration of RMSSrecommendations.For red meat processors, items of interest on the SCG’s action list incoming months include the development of a number of discussionpapers for consideration by sector participants. According to Ritchie,these will explore issues such as alternative marketing approaches,historical price benchmarking, transparent pricing and leveraging thesector’s data and analytical capability;“The SCG will also be in communication with senior trade and agriculturalofficials to develop a proposal for a new market access engagementmechanism and will engage with stock and station agentsto explore the possibility of the development of a voluntary code ofpractice for stock agents.”The SCG’s next quarterly report will be issued at the end of December.The full September quarterly report is available on the MIA websitewww.mia.co.nz.SCG membersOther SCG members are: Katherine Rich, chief executive of the NewZealand Food and Grocery Council and former National MP; GraemeMilne, a professional director in the primary sector; Paul Stocks, deputydirector general – policy from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry;Bill Falconer, MIA chair; Mike Petersen, Beef + Lamb NZ chair; and ScottChampion, B+LNZ chief executive. The group is co-chaired by Bill Falconerand Mike Petersen.Collaborating on market researchThe second area of work – market research collaboration – involvesthe MIA Renderers Group developing, with the assistance of New ZealandTrade and Enterprise funding, a collaborative market researchproject for rendered products in emerging markets.“New Zealand exports rendered products worth around $300 millionannually, but currently relies heavily on a small number of marketsand applications, so the Renderers Group intends to investigate theopportunities for marketing rendered products into new applicationsin emerging markets,” he comments.Leveraging maximum value from costs of complianceThe third initiative relates to compliance costs. MIA and its membershave recently established with MAF a new strategic liaison group, theStrategic Directions Group (SDG), which aims to leverage maximumvalue from New Zealand’s regulatory regime and by minimising meatprocessing costs.Ritchie says the SDG will provide a governance forum for the industryto communicate its objectives and concerns to MAF, “ensuring that theroughly $80 million that the industry pays each year in direct governmentcharges delivers maximum value.”Other work to comeAs well as discussing these initiatives and other work underwaythrough B+LNZ, the report provides an overview of the actions thatthe SCG is undertaking in order to facilitate or promote implementationof the RMSS recommendations.This work is based on the outcome of the SCG’s stocktake exercise,Training supports andcareer OpportunitiesNZITO specialises in applied learningand development services in meat,dairy, and food processing. Ourspeciality in process operations,labs, boiler operations, transportand supply chain, and food safetytraining.NZITO delivers formal qualifications with subsidies. We alsoprovide lean manufacturing programs to companies to help boostproductivity, reduce waste, lower inventory, improve quality andstreamline communications within the workforce.NZITO supports career developments like gateway options toschools, plus apprenticeships for 16 to 21 year olds. We alsoworks with polytechnics and universities to deliver diploma anddegree options for advanced skillsneeds.People interested in should look atour website www.nzito.co.nz or callus for information.NZITO Box 488 Hamilton NZDecember 2011/January 2012 39