Red meat sector in good hands
A mix of 15 student engineers and lawyers, young farmers, leaders, business entrepreneurs, researchers, environmentalists and volunteers have been presented with Meat Industry Association (MIA) scholarships.
The scholars were awarded their scholarships at AgResearch’s new Lincolnbased research facility, Tuhiraki, at the end of April, in recognition of their potential to lead the sector – beyond the farm gate and the lecture theatres.
Following the presentation, industry leaders from ANZCO, AgResearch, Lyttelton Port Company and Costco Shipping spoke to the scholars on successes within, and challenges faced by the industry, and opportunities for career growth.
Of the 15 scholars, nine have been newly awarded, and six re-awarded to complement their remaining years of study. The nine included Wiseson Kuang, KellyAnne Bentley, Thomas Hayward, Sophie Ridd, Fynn Mitchell, Emily Irwin, Kelsi Hayes, Oliver Stark and Angus Bradley. Re-awarded were Angus Grant, Cameron Walker, Hennie Pienaar, Ella Zwagerman, Dominic Morrison and Hayden Corbett.
The motivations of the scholarship recipients are wide-ranging.
Growing up on an Angus stud farm in Te Akau, Waikato, Hayward has a grounding in genetics and an interest in increasing demand for New Zealand red meat internationally while lowering production emissions through supply chain management.
“Seeing the red meat industry aiming for more efficient, high-quality cattle has sparked my interest in how we can continue to evolve in all aspects of the sector to make sure New Zealand meat is the best quality possible.”
Alongside the scholarship, an ambition to work in the environmental management sector will give Hayes the opportunity to continue working with Hokonui Rūnanga, one of 18 rūnanga (local councils) of Ngāi Tahu, and Alliance Group’s Mataura Plant.
“The whole point of studying for me is to work with industry to make sure everything is working well together and that improvements are being made,” Hayes said. “That is a way you can have a positive impact.”
Walker says the programme will allow him to give back to rural communities, inspired by his Dannevirke High School agriculture teacher who encouraged him to apply for the scholarship, two years after he had finished school.
Bentley has her sights set on getting better quality meat to our supermarkets and exporters through a novel technology that rapidly predicts the quality of meat. Working alongside a research team, she hopes the technology will advance the assessment of carcasses at meat processors.
Pienaar has applied his studies on musculoskeletal injuries to the red meat sector. He’s studying for a PhD and hopes his thesis will advise prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in meat-processing employees. According to ACC, the cost of musculoskeletal injury claims to the meat processing industry is more than $12 million –accounting for more than 50% of ACC claims from within the industry each year.
Following the scholarship programme, 46% of 39 graduated scholars have gained employment within meat companies and related agricultural roles, MIA partnerships manager Kaylene Larking said.
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, said the programme provided practical experience to complement their studies and their innovative thinking brought a point of difference to the sector and the challenges faced by it.
“We’re not standing still as an industry. We’re constantly innovating and looking to the future to understand how our customers and consumers want to engage with our product. Having scientists and food technologists and marketers coming up through the ranks with a fresh pair of eyes is so important.”
Of the industry leaders, Cameron Craigie, senior scientist at AgResearch, spoke on the innovative role that AgResearch plays in the industry to improve problems like meat quality. One of these innovations is Clarospec, a non-invasive technology that identifies high-quality cuts of meat aligned to consumer needs.
Joel Gabites, general manager of commercial and business improvement at ANZCO Foods, spoke on the value of continuing to learn independently after entering the workforce. A connection to the land was something Gabites had recognised in many people in the red meat industry – including the MIA scholars.