NORTHERN Queensland cattle producers, live exporters and processors are invited to provide their insights to help define the red meat and livestock industry's strategic direction to 2020 during a series of workshops being held around the nation by the Red Meat Advisory Council Ltd (RMAC).
Townsville will host one of 12 regional consultative workshops being run across the country on Friday September 26.
Organisers are asking beef industry professionals to come to the workshop and share their thoughts regarding the future of the industry and to contribute to the development of the next Meat Industry Strategic Plan (MISP).
The MISP frames the overarching direction of the production, processing and live export sectors of Australia's beef, sheepmeat and goat meat industries. Its development and delivery is overseen by the industry's peak representative body, the Red Meat Advisory Council Ltd (RMAC).
RMAC Chairman, Ross Keane, highlighted that the workshops are an important process in ensuring regional priorities and issues are captured in identifying the industry's greatest challenges and opportunities to 2020, and beyond.
"The supply chain workshops represent 'new ground' as far as MISP development is concerned; we haven't participated in grass-roots consultation such as this in previous years," Mr Keane said.
"We're a $16b industry, and we need to ensure that the very people who stand to benefit the most from the successes we can achieve through MISP have a direct line of input to its development," he said.
"This is a 1-in-5-year opportunity, and I encourage those with a direct or indirect stake in our industry to get involved, and help focus our collective efforts on the biggest opportunities and challenges we have in front of us."
The workshop will be held at James Cook University; in the University Halls; Endeavour room on Friday September 26, starting at 9:30am.
For catering purposes (morning tea and lunch will be provided), please RSVP to Deanne Cranitch on 33304505 or email deanne.cranitch@daff.qld.gov.au by close of business Wednesday September 24.
