Cattle Australia has welcomed Woolworths’ acknowledgement and support to continue working with beef producers and suppliers to develop appropriate sustainability definitions in the Australian context.
In its annual report, the supermarket giant announced it would interpret and apply appropriate sustainability definitions and assessments in the context of Australian supply chains, industry and geography.
CA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chris Parker, said given Australian beef producers already operate under some of the toughest and most extensive vegetation management laws in the developed world, this move was a win for producers and the environment.
“It is vital the fog of confusion that has been created by some environmental groups around misleading deforestation perceptions is refuted and ignored,” Dr Parker said.
“The continued focus on their interpretation of international frameworks, in which these groups ignore or downplay the land use assessment requirement of the predominant agricultural use, is disingenuous at best.
“We strongly encourage all major supermarkets and other industry stakeholders to not fall for this trap.”
Dr Parker said there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to environmental policy and it is vital we ensure definitions recognise and respect the intricacies of responsible and sustainable beef production in the unique Australian landscape.
“It is ludicrous to believe the policies and definitions adopted by other nations can be transposed onto us here, and we acknowledge the commonsense now being shown by some significant linkages in the beef supply chain in their approach to supporting both ecological health and Australia’s role as a key contributor to global nutrition and food security,” Dr Parker said.
“We play a vital role in contributing to the resilience of our communities and nation, and as custodians of more than 50 per cent of the country’s land mass, we are proud to play a part in ensuring the sustainability and prosperity of our environment for generations to come.”
Dr Parker said you need only look at Australia’s vegetation management regulations, which are some of the strictest in the world, to see evidence of the industry’s commitment to the environment.
“Currently, there are some 118 pieces of legislation at the State and Territory level listed under Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework, and a further 18 Federal Government laws, which producers must abide by,” Dr Parker said.
“CA’s Land Management Commitment will address the nuances of the Australian beef production system with regards to land management and biodiversity, and we are committed to promoting the very real sustainability credentials of the Australian red meat supply chain.”
-Cattle Australia