News

Feed the Man “Organic” Meat

Media Release, Friday 1 August 2003

The marketing potential of organic beef was the highlight of a recent beef conference at the Glenormiston campus of the University of Melbourne.

Robert Radford, General Manager of Radford and Sons, Victoria’s only certified organic meat processor, told the annual conference of the Southern Beef School the market for organic beef was about to expand rapidly.

Mr Radford said organic meat looks set to follow the trend of organic fruit and vegetables.

“There is now more concern than ever about what we are eating and the possibility of food containing hormones or pesticides”, said Mr Radford.

The Southern Beef School at the Glenormiston campus of the University of Melbourne heard that there were only five certified organic meat producers in Australia.

“Beef producers and processors must go through a rigorous certification process” says Mr Radford.

“Livestock must come from a certified organic property and fat samples taken from the livestock must be clear of 25 nominated herbicides and pesticides”, he says.

“The initial response from consumers has been very positive with meat buyers prepared to pay a 30% premium for organic meat.”

Radford and Sons is now looking at the export potential for organic meat with Singapore the first market in their sights.

The Southern Beef School attracted nearly 100 participants from across Victoria, with the focus on developing a customer driven beef industry. In addition to organic meat, there was also considerable discussion on the adoption of national meat standards that would provide a “consistent customer experience” for meat buyers.

University of Melbourne Associate Professor of Economics, Bill Malcolm said “Marketing agricultural products is a specialist activity requiring investment of capital, skills and time, and has to be seen in the light of all the other investment opportunities farmers face”.