Disclaimer:© 2024. Meat & Livestock Australia. ABN 39 081 678 364. Care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, MLA , MDC and ISC (“MLA Group”) do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information or opinions contained in this publication. This publication is intended to provide general information only and it has been prepared without taking into account your specific circumstances, objectives, or needs. Any forwardlooking statements made within this publication are not guarantees of future performance or results, and performance or results may vary from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements. No representation, warranty or other assurance is given as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness, likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of forward-looking statements or related assumptions contained in the publication. You should make your own enquiries before making decisions concerning your interests. Your use of, or reliance on, any content is entirely at your own risk and the MLA Group accepts no liability for any losses or damages incurred by you as a result of that use or reliance. MLA acknowledges the matching funds provided by the Australian Government to support the research and development detailed in this Annual Report.
Annual Report 2023–24
Sustainability
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ABOUT MLA

MLA invests in research and marketing activities for the benefit of the Australian red meat and livestock industry

What we do
Research, development and adoption

MLA invested $175.2 million in a range of research, development and adoption programs during 2023–24. This included $93.7 million invested through MLA Donor Company (MDC). This investment includes matching funds from the Australian Government and grants.

In 2023–24, MLA completed or terminated 265 research contracts, worth $171.5 million. These include 82 MDC contracts, contributing a total value of $101.0 million.

MLA commenced 145 new research and development contracts totalling $70.0 million in 2023–24. This included 40 contracts through MDC that were worth $44.0 million, with milestones across multiple years. This has resulted in 368 current contracts as at 30 June 2024, worth $487.7 million.

Marketing, market access and insights
During the year MLA invested $101.1 million in marketing, market access and insights to grow demand for Australian red meat and livestock domestically and abroad. The majority of this investment was ineligible to be matched with funds from the Australian Government.
How we work

As the declared industry research and marketing body under the Australian Meat and Live-stock Act, we operate in partnership with the Australian Government and value chain partners. The Australian Government sets high priority research and development objectives covering community, industry and environmental concerns.

Peak industry bodies Cattle Australia, Australian Lot Feeders’ Association, Sheep Producers Australia and Goat Industry Council Australia assist MLA in consulting with levy payers on industry needs and priorities and provide guidance to ensure MLA strategy reflects these.

MLA also works closely with the Red Meat Advisory Council, the Australian Meat Processor Corporation, the Australian Meat Industry Council, LiveCorp and the Australian Livestock Exporters' Council to develop programs that address key industry issues and opportunities through the supply chain, manage projects and communicate outcomes.

How we are funded
MLA is primarily funded via transaction levies paid on livestock sales by producers and these levies are used to support marketing, research and development activities. However, we also receive funding through:
  • funding co-contributions matching levy investment through the Australian Government
  • unmatched grants
  • other funding streams.
For the full breakdown of MLA’s funding sources, visit mla.com.au/how-we-are-funded
Who we are
Our board

The MLA Board’s nine directors combine a broad range of skills, experience and expertise to set strategic priorities for the company, and approve and monitor progress against MLA’s Strategic Plan 2025. mla.com.au/board

Our business units

MLA delivers marketing, research and development on behalf of cattle, sheep and goat levy payers through five business units and two subsidiary companies. mla.com.au/how-we-deliver

Our staff

As at 30 June 2024, MLA had 287 employees, both domestically and internationally.

Australian Beef and Sheep Sustainability Frameworks

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) and Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF) were developed by the livestock industry to meet changing market expectations around sustainability and ensure industry’s ongoing market advantage. The ABSF is led by the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) and the SSF by the SSF Board representing Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) and WoolProducers Australia (WPA). The frameworks are delivered by independent Sustainability Steering Groups who represent the Australian beef, sheepmeat and wool value chains respectively. The ABSF and SSF are industry-led but investor and customer focused frameworks. They reduce risks and leverage opportunities by managing disclosures on sustainability topics that are most important to Australian beef, sheepmeat and wool industry stakeholders. The Frameworks transparently track performance annually against key sustainability topics as aligned to the four themes of:

  1. Best animal care
  2. Environmental stewardship
  3. Economic resilience
  4. People, customers, and community.

Within these themes, the most critical priorities and aligned indicators are defined, and their progress tracked using best available, verifiable metrics and data sources, reported annually.

The ABSF and SSF undertake extensive engagement with internal and external stakeholders, which builds trust, enabling industry to lead a whole of supply chain commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement.

The 2024 ABSF and SSF Consultative Committee Forums attracted capacity crowds of investors, customers, and industry stakeholders. Participants highly ranked the overall progress of the frameworks as delivered through the annual reports, with stakeholders utilising the insights and data generated to inform their own decision making.

The Frameworks’ principles, sustainability themes and priorities are being utilised by supply chain stakeholders to align to their own sustainability claims and the insights and data contained in the annual reports is invaluable in demonstrating the Australian beef industry’s sustainability credentials and claims in international and national dialogues.

OVERVIEW

2023–24 highlights

Investments

All MLA programs are evaluated on a regular basis using a comprehensive Triple Bottom Line (TBL) evaluation framework. This allows MLA to calculate investment returns in a systematic and timely basis rather than relying on a five-year evaluation cycle, as well as the ability to continuously monitor the timing and value of the economic, social and environmental benefits derived from MLA’s investments.

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Performance

Status of MLA’s 2022–23 key performance indicators as at 30 June 2024.

KPIs in Annual Investment Plan 2023–24

No Data Found

AchievedPartly achievedNot achieved

Strategic focus KPIs in MLA’s Strategic Plan 2025

No Data Found

On trackNot on track

Membership

Membership of MLA is voluntary and free to all levy-paying grassfed cattle, grainfed cattle, sheep, lamb and goat producers. MLA had 50,521 members as at 30 June 2024, an increase of 384 members from 2023. The table below shows the composition of MLA’s members.

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The Data is Not Available

ALIGNMENT WITH GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES

R&D priorities

Science and research priorities (%)

No Data Found

Rural research, development and extension priorities

No Data Found

Value of research contracts at 30 June each financial year

No Data Found

CHAIR'S REPORT

Record lamb and beef production volumes are expected for 2025, coinciding with a protein deficit in the USA. This will provide a great opportunity for Australian red meat in the global market.

Operating environment

Producers across Australia experienced variable seasonal conditions and the arrival of an El Niño event in 2023, with southern NSW, western Victoria, all of SA and most of southern WA missing out on vital Autumn rain in 2024. This contributed to lower livestock prices with challenging meat trading conditions and higher livestock turn-off.

An increase in livestock numbers and turn-off produced higher lamb, mutton and beef production, but also softer livestock prices. As the flock and herd numbers are forecast to ease over the coming three years, slaughter increases are set to lead to record Australian meat production. The outlook however is positive, with demand set to outstrip supply in some key markets. While carcase weights have eased slightly this year, they are still at relatively historic highs. The slight drop in carcase weight is offset by the bigger jump in slaughter numbers and an increasing proportion of beef production coming from feedlots.

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MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

The last year has seen significant change for our industry following three years of herd and flock rebuild on the back of strong seasonal and market conditions.

Sustainability from paddock to plate

Since my return to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) in May 2024 as Managing Director, I’ve prioritised taking the time to meet with a wide range of industry stakeholders to hear how they are viewing MLA’s performance against the MLA Strategic Plan, the MLA Annual Investment Plan as well as understand their priorities for our industry moving forward. I’ve gained valuable insight into how MLA’s investments have investigated, delivered and communicated a range of tools, training and research-backed marketing, adoption and on-farm strategies to support the red meat industry over the 2023–24 financial year.

I was delighted to read in the most recent annual MLA Producer Adoption Outcomes Report that our adoption programs have delivered an annual net benefit of $74.3 million to those producers engaged in MLA adoption programs during FY24.

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Financial summary

Revenue ($ million)

No Data Found

$283.1 million

Expenditure ($ million)

No Data Found

$276.3 million

Retained earnings by funding source 2023–24

No Data Found

Grassfed cattle leviesGrainfed cattle leviesLamb levies
Mutton leviesGoat leviesMLA Donor Company
Integrity Systems Company

$51.6 million

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