By Koos du Pisani (sponsored content)

Commodity organisations in the red meat industry – the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), the former National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo), the South African Feedlot Association (SAFA) and the Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA) – realised the South African red meat industry has the potential to compete internationally, but there was always a gear missing in the red meat value chain.

A better engine room

These participants joined forces in 2021, formed the Red Meat and Livestock Primary Cluster (RMPC) and drew up a plan to grow a sector that produced a marginal surplus into a sustainable and competitive one which benefits all parties.

The goals the group set were to:

Grow the production value of the red meat industry by R8.3 billion;
Get 250 000 more weaner calves on the market annually by 2030;
Grow the export market by 20%; and
Grow the annual potential of the red meat industry by R12 billion.

This would be no easy task, so it was decided to establish a non-profit company to take responsibility for the services that must be delivered to achieve these goals.

In 2022, Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) was established to deliver all services in respect of the statutory levy that producers pay. This is detailed in the red meat industry’s Vision 2030, which is stipulated in the regulations signed by the then minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development.

RMIS focus areas

The members must direct RMIS regarding industry participants’ requests, as well as hotspots and opportunities for the respective participants and organisations.

RMIS’s focus areas are:

Animal and public health within the guidelines of the state and international markets;
Market access for commercial and emerging farmers;
Inclusive growth to help all farmers take their farming to a higher level and reach goals; and
Competitiveness and sustainability, because import markets’ biggest requirement is the sustainable supply of red meat.

On paper, it may seem easy to achieve the Vision 2030 ideals, but Dewald Olivier, executive head of RMIS, believes it is a step-by-step project.

Rmis’s Role In The Red Meat Value Chain — The Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) plays a pivotal role in representing and supporting the interests of local red meat producers, ensuring the sustainable growth and development of the industry.

Current projects

He says RMIS has identified specific projects for this year. “The income from the statutory levy is limited and it is important that the functions performed by RMIS rebuild trust with payers of this levy and provide them with a clear advantage.”

Ten priority projects have been identified for this year:

Functional systems for record-keeping and data-sharing (traceability) which concentrate on a national traceability system and comply with export requirements.
Inclusive growth through the transfer of knowledge, the development of emergent farmers (the Land Development Support Programme), the appropriation of mobile livestock processing units (especially for emergent farmers) and a comprehensive solution for business growth.
An industry survey that includes an animal health system which makes data available during national disease outbreaks with the aim of being proactive, as well as getting a national animal health review to tackle problems in time.
A recording system for industry meat safety and carcass data.
The development of a South African red meat certification system to ensure consumers of continued biosecurity, animal health and meat safety (RPO is service provider). It offers more export options to the red meat industry.
The fight against livestock theft (the RPO is the service provider). This project aims to provide training to reduce stock theft and prosecute offenders and stock theft prevention on ground level.
Production and producer development (the RPO is the service provider). In this project, emphasis is placed on increased red meat production to promote competitiveness and sustainability.
Consumer education by Beef and Lamb SA to increase the consumption of red meat and to provide better training for agricultural educators with the help of an e-learning programme.
The standardisation of abattoirs.
An audit of abattoir and export facilities.

For more about RMIS’s projects and activities, visit rmis.co.za or follow the company on social media.

This page is sponsored by the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO). This article was written and supplied by the RPO.

Direct enquiries to the RPO:
Tel. 012 349 1102
Email: corine@rpo.co.za
Wed: www.rpo.co.za