RED Meat, Green Facts, a ‘fast-facts’ resource to promote the red meat industry’s credentials and empower Australia’s red meat advocates, has been launched at Beef Australia 2021 by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
The new producer pocket guide and online resource provides important information about cattle, sheep and goat production in Australia, with a particular focus on animal welfare, protecting the environment and health and nutrition.
MLA managing director Jason Strong said while Australia’s red meat industry had world-leading production systems, was the custodian for half of Australia’s land mass, and played a vital and sustainable role in feeding Australians and the world that “frustratingly” misconceptions, inaccuracies and criticisms of the industry gain traction.
“Never has it been more important for us to work together across our industry to be proactive and positive about what we do with the facts to counter any negative narrative,” he said.
“The reality is, our industry is leading the way in the challenge to lower emissions, to improve productivity, to constantly improve animal welfare and in doing that, we produce a uniquely nutrient-dense and natural protein of the highest quality.
“It is vital our industry is transparent and proud of our ongoing achievements in caring for our land, animals and products, with the evidence to back it up.” Mr Strong said with this front of mind, MLA has produced Red Meat, Green Facts.
“It brings together clear, evidencebased messages to empower Australia’s red meat advocates on topics such as the environment, animal welfare, nutrition and plant-based fake meats,” he said.
“For MLA, this work around red meat positioning forms a critical part of our current strategic output.
Our consumer and community insights continue to show that perceptions of the red meat industry are improving.
“However, consumers are less informed about the specifics, and are increasingly turning to a wide variety of sources for information.
The red meat industry has a good story to tell, and if we don’t start to tell it a little better, it’s a given that someone less qualified or with an antimeat agenda will.
“Underpinning Australian red meat’s popularity and quality are the worldleading practices our producers use on-farm, every single day.
“Red meat, green facts highlights the industry’s achievements, targets, stringent standards and most importantly provides science based facts about how red meat is produced.
“We want our story to reflect the positivity of our industry’s contribution – around long-term sustainability, people’s health, growing our economy and leaving the land in better shape than we found it.
“That’s how we will resonate with the community most successfully.”