Central Queensland University has been awarded a $200,101 traceability grant to improve meat traceability through the existing National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
The research will look at ways to improve meat traceability, animal welfare and meat quality.
On-animal sensors or smart-tags is an emerging technology and may be ideal to adapt into the red meat industry.
The $200,101 will research how smart-tags technology can be used in traceability, linking pre-farm gate management with the results obtained at processing.
It involves a review of how smart-tags can be used to detect disease and management issues, and a case study to inform how this data can be employed for industry.
While there is a commercial drawback to diseases, given that they ultimately result in carcass downgrades, any incentive to improve the health and welfare of our animals can only be a positive.
As we already use sophisticated ear tags in the form of the NLIS, this research can be used to improve and expand a product that is already in use.
Consumers are asking for greater transparency and real time advice about the origin and safety of product in the modern digital marketplace.
Whether it’s through developing block-chain technology to assist with food safety, an app to track kangaroo meat harvesting, or a DNA database to combat illegal logging, these round two projects will give Aussie exporters the competitive edge.
Associate Professor Mark Trotter of the Central Queensland University said that he was grateful for the grant.
“We thank the Australian Government for its support to develop a sensor-based livestock traceability system,” Professor Trotter concluded.
