International delegation beefs up industry development in the Pacific
CQUniversity and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) are this week hosting 15 delegates from the Pacific island countries with the goal of developing a regional beef research collaboration to ensure the growth and sustainability of the beef industry across the Pacific.
CQUniversity livestock researchers Simon Quigley and Amy Bates will lead the delegation of representatives from Government and universities in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Dr Quigley has worked on several livestock research projects in the Pacific and is passionate about improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and building research capacity in developing countries.
“Beef is an important contributor to the national economy and livelihoods of people across the Pacific island countries,” Dr Quigley said.
“Cattle farmers in the Pacific face many of the same challenges as our cattle farmers in northern Australia, so international research and training collaborations may be mutually beneficial to both the beef industries across the Pacific islands and northern Australia.”
The group will attend various events being held as part of the triennial Beef Australia expo in Rockhampton, Central Queensland including property tours, seminars and meetings with innovators, policy makers and marketing experts in the Australian beef industry.
Funded by ACIAR, the delegation will also participate in a two-day Regional Beef Workshop at CQUniversity where each representative will deliver an update on the beef industry in their country and identify opportunities to work together to overcome shared challenges
ACIAR Research Program Manager for Livestock Systems, Dr Anna Okello, said ACIAR greatly values the research for development relationships with our Pacific island neighbours to ensure long-term and equitable agricultural partnerships within the region.
“Whilst many Pacific island countries have favourable conditions for beef production, they face ongoing growth and sustainability challenges such as access to inputs, increasing transportation and logistics costs, labour availability, variable climatic conditions and ongoing biosecurity threats,” Dr Okello said.
Vanuatu Department of Trade Director, Mr Noel Kalo said trade policies and protocols were an important part of growing a sustainable beef industry in Vanuatu.
“I am interested to hear about the role government, industry bodies and the private sector play in securing and growing Australia’s beef industry trade, and I am looking forward to meeting some of these stakeholders during the week,” Mr Kalo said.
Producers and industry can also meet with CQU livestock researchers at “Ask-an-Expert” sessions being held at site R22 of the Schwarten Pavilion at the Beef Australia grounds.
