Sustainability key focus for sheep industry
Sustainability of environment, animal welfare, and the community of sheep producers are the key pillars of a new document aimed at promoting the wool and sheep meat industries.
A sustainable environment, animal welfare, and the community of sheep producers are the key pillars of a new document aimed at promoting the wool and sheep meat industries.
The Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework, launched today by Sheep Producers Australia and Wool Producers Australia, is aimed at uniting both the sheep meat and wool industries and identifying key factors important to all parts of the supply chain.
Charles Sturt animal veterinary sciences professor in livestock systems Bruce Allworth, who was instrumental in the development of the framework, said the document was created to address a desire from consumers to know more about the management of sheep in Australia.
“Wool and lamb are high- premium products, and consumers have high standards,” Prof Allworth said.
“We would be encouraging producers to get involved with programs which recognise what they’re doing in that space. It’s to tell our story of sustainability, but also we want to identify opportunities for improvement.”
Four pillars are outlined within the framework as key themes for the industry: caring for sheep; enhancing the environment; looking after people, customers and community; and ensuring a financially resilient industry.
“Go back 20 years, everyone was talking about sustainability in terms of the environment,” Prof Allworth said.
“But in the animal industry, ethical production and animals welfare is a key part of what people think is a sustainable production system.
“Not only our contribution to the environment, but how we look after our animals. It’s also how we look after our people, how to have a sustainable industry. Those are the main pillars.”
Sheep Producers Australia chair Chris Mirams called the framework a “living document” that would underpin trust in the relationship between producers and their customers.
“It will produce the evidence to support our sustainability claims and help our industry understand our opportunities and challenges in an evolving global marketplace,” Mr Mirams said.
Wool Producers Australia chair Ed Storey said the framework would change over time.
“We know sustainability has many aspects to it. How do we as a sheep and wool industry demonstrate that to the world on an ongoing basis?” Mr Storey said.
“(The framework) will change over time. It will tell a wonderfully positive story in many areas. In some areas it will challenge our industry to do better.”
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