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Traceable and accountable federal funds shelled out
Cant Comment by BRENDON CANT
TRACEABILITY of food products is a no brainer.
the $4 million available. The program’s stated ob- jectives are:
sales of eggs in Australia, via major supermarkets, was worth $961 million.
Defined as the ability to track any food through all stages of production, pro- cessing and distribution, including importation and at retail, traceability should mean movements can be traced one step backwards and one step forward at any point in the supply chain.
• Support industry pro- jects that will enhance our agricultural supply chain traceability systems. This includes developing and trialling technologies that digitise information flow.
In an increasingly fre- netic free trade world, the Federal Government clearly views ramping up exports of Australian pri- mary produce as a priority and is subsequently keen to incentivise to ensure it happens, and that it hap- pens in a controlled, clean, traceable environment.
Being able to track food through all stages of pro- duction, processing and distribution obviously then makes a product recall easier and quicker if some- thing does go wrong.
• Provide an advantage for our exporters in over- seas markets that will as- sist them to maintain their competitive edge.
“The project will deliver a simple way for farm- ers to support on farm egg accounting, as well as provide a mechanism for supply chain traceabil- ity,” Minister Littleproud proudly pronounced – be- fore explaining that a series of workshops around the country would hopefully deliver the goods to farm- ers, while also educating their customers about the safety and premium qual- ity of Australian eggs.
Noting the above, I was interested to learn on Au- gust 28, via an announce- ment by Federal Agricul- ture Minister David Little- proud, that Australian Eggs Limited had been granted $325,000, essentially to ensure egg farmers adopt a consistent approach to traceability.
It seems clear, therefore, that the government and the industry are hoping ex- ports of Australian eggs can be boosted by having superior accountability and traceability, as egg exports are currently only a very small part of the industry.
• Increase opportunities to export Australian com- modities.
Apparently this Trace- ability Grants Program funding is to be used to develop software and edu- cational material, hopeful- ly to enhance egg supply chain integrity.
After all, I’m advised they were one of only 16 successful applicants in the Round One funding, which attracted 168 applications, collectively chasing $90 million.
The project is supported by the NSW, Queensland and Western Austral- ian state governments and Egg Farmers of Australia, which has a database of 450 egg producers accord- ing to the Minister’s state- ment.
Good news, I think.
I’m thinking further that
Surprise/surprise, this well and truly exceeded
By way of comparison, in the same year, grocery
Australian Eggs Limited must have hatched a very well laid-out proposal.
I understand that in the 2019 financial year, only about $3.4 million worth of Australian egg prod- ucts – shell eggs, egg pulp liquid and egg powder – were exported, with Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore shelling out the majority, at about $2.5 mil- lion.
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The more eggs move around, the more important supply chain traceability becomes.
Egg Farmers of Australia welcome ACCC Inquiry
ANY efforts to provide increased communica- tion between farmers and other stakeholders across the supply chain are always welcomed.
important for a sustain- able industry.
It is hoped that the in- quiry considers current existing regulatory ar- rangements, impacts on consumers due to sup- ply chain decisions, and the wider impacts for industry both domesti- cally and in order to compete in export mar- kets.
Egg Farmers of Aus- tralia provide regular updates to major retail- ers relating to produc- tion challenges, and look for increased ongo- ing engagement by re- tailers in relation to egg policy.
Our organisation has previously written to ACCC in relation to in- creased transparency and advocacy in relation to egg pricing.
An understanding that production costs must be reflected in a return back to the farm gate is
As a representative body, under the Australi- an Competition and Con- sumer Act, discussion around prices and supply contracts with farmers would be in breach of the legislation, making it difficult for representa- tive bodies to advocate on behalf of farmers.
Such an inquiry should be welcomed as an av- enue to assist the egg in- dustry remain economi- cally viable, both in the short and long-term, and allow increased options for farmers.
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National Poultry Newspaper, September 2020 – Page 3