29-05-2002

Red meat producers across Australia are set to benefit from a $1.5 million Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) contribution to the National Dryland Salinity Program (NDSP).

The funding will be used for targeted research aimed at developing practical solutions for producers to improve the productivity and sustainability of land affected by dryland salinity.

MLA Commercialisation and Delivery Program Manager, Dr Ben Russell, said one of MLA's key missions is to help enhance the natural resource base of the red meat industry.

"Creating, and making available, the tools and information that will enable producers to improve their enterprise and sustainability of the industry as a whole is a priority for MLA,"
he said.

"MLA has an on-going commitment to improving the social, environmental and economic performance of the meat industry through research and development, through such programs as Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) and the North Australia Program.

"The NDSP has had close ties to MLA programs in the past. Being a part of the NDSP will cement these existing relations and connections to this program and others that MLA supports."

MLA's $1.5 million contribution will be invested over five years through the NDSP-managed Sustainable Grazing from Saline Land (SGSL) initiative.

The new partnership follows the commitment to targeted research by the wool industry and Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) through SGSL late last year. SGSL is part of the wider Land, Water and Wool joint venture between AWI and Land & Water Australia.

In welcoming MLA to the Program, NDSP National Manager Richard Price said the new partnership provided the livestock industry with direct access to significant work currently being undertaken to help develop the most appropriate management decisions and solutions for dryland salinity.

"As a partner in the Program, MLA now supports the best science, research and development currently available nationally for understanding and managing the dryland salinity risk to our land and water resources," he said.

"Dryland salinity management must be planned at both a local and catchment scale and implemented at the landscape, regional, farm and paddock scale as appropriate."

Mr Price said through the NDSP, people involved in land and water resource management were recognising that innovative solutions to salinity will come from a combination of increased and strategic use of perennial plant species, new management systems, productive use of saline land and water and engineering options.

MLA provides services to Australia's livestock producers and offers support to the cattle, sheep and goat industries in strategic planning. The producer-owned company also provides services to other industry sectors, such as meat processors and live animal exporters.

Dr Russell will represent MLA on the NDSP Board of Management, while MLA's Feedbase and Natural Resource Management Project Manager, Cameron Allen, has been appointed to the NDSP Operations Committee.

For further information please contact:

Please contact Land & Water Australia
Email: land&wateraustralia@lwa.gov.auPhone: 02 6263 6000