The Australasian beef industries- Challenges and opportunities in the 21st century

Abstract

Accelerating global demand for beef offers great opportunity to the predominantly beef-exporting nations of Australia and New Zealand. However, Australasian industries face serious challenges in their ability to capitalize on this opportunity sustainably, including, but not limited to, • The need to mitigate the environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (mostly enteric methane) and threats to the stability and biodiversity of pastoral ecosystems. • The increasing risk of incursions of devastating exotic diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, and the consequent loss of preferential access to export markets. • Increasing public awareness and concern about management, transport, and slaughter practices that, if not addressed proactively, could negatively affect domestic and export markets. Effective responses to these challenges, and therefore to industry sustainability, will require a combination of innovations in research and development, public and private investment in industry infrastructure, and development of well-informed public policy and trade diplomacy initiatives.