Member and Industry News Spotlight Christian Mulders We had a chat with ALFA’s CEO, Christian Mulders about his experiences over the years, thoughts on the industry and some of his highlights along the way. WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE? At a high level, being part of an association that contributes to the prosperity of Australia’s red meat and livestock industry which, on so many levels, is such an important sector for Australia. On a personal level, being part of a team who are single-minded about delivering outcomes that make a difference to our members’ businesses, the lives of the people who work in those businesses and the fantastic product they produce. DO YOU HAVE ANY HIGHLIGHTS FROM ALONG THE WAY? Throughout my career I have been involved in industry systems such as the LPA program, the NLIS, National Vendor Declarations The red meat industry has over 75,000 businesses (NVD) and more recently the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme – all of which underpin the integrity of our product and deliver Australian red meat’s enviable reputation around the globe. A key highlight was the development of the Meat Industry’s Animal Welfare Certification System which is an independently audited animal welfare program linked to a certified trademark that enables meat processors to demonstrate their commitment to best practice. The program boasts coverage of over 80% of meat production and the trademark has been adopted commercially at retail, including by the ALDI supply chain. That’s something I’m really proud of. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THE INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY FACING? The price of red meat products at retail comparative to other proteins is certainly challenging on the domestic front; as is the growing who employ over 178,000 people divide between urban and rural Australia and the relative knowledge of everyday Australians about how their food is produced. As the world’s largest exporter of beef and goat meat and second largest for sheep meat, maximising market access opportunities remains the red meat and livestock industry’s number one priority. DO YOU THINK THE INDUSTRY IS WELL POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE? The prosperity of the nation is linked to the prosperity of our sector. Industry, through the Red Meat Advisory Council, is investing in the Meat Industry Strategic Plan 2020, developed to unlock up to $7b in growth for Australian red meat and livestock businesses. We also have in place genuine industry-government partnership platforms, dedicated to protecting Australia’s great reputation and growing opportunities for those who work hard to produce the world’s greatest red meat. earning approx $18b for Australia’s economy THE LINK AUT/WIN 18 49
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