Background
The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) is the research, development and adoption (R&D&A) body for Australian red meat processors. AMPC are funded through mandatory statutory levies provided by our industry, Co-funding opportunities and can leverage Commonwealth matched funding.
Within AMPC's strategic plan there are five key research programs:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Sustainability
- People and Culture
- Technical Market Access and Markets
- Product and Process Integrity
AMPC contracts providers and engages with processors to undertake R&D in these areas. AMPC are looking for innovative solutions to the problems and challenges faced by red meat processors.
Challenge
In the Australian meat processing industry, 80% of the profit from a processed animal comes from only 20% of the carcass. Maximising the value of the remaining 80% of the carcass, including sheep skins and beef hides, is a significant priority for Australian processors and producers. The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) is committed to developing new products that increase returns from the entire carcass.
Current Uses of Sheep Skins and Beef Hides
Currently, sheep skins and beef hides are primarily used for:
- Tanning for leather goods
- Composting
- Rendering
- Collagen extraction
However, these uses often provide limited returns, and in some cases, the skins and hides are disposed of by deep burial, which incurs additional costs.
AMPC is seeking innovative proposals for new uses of hides and skins. These solutions can pertain to either food or non-food production. While proposals involving collagen extraction are welcome, they should include subsequent development of products from the collagen, such as incorporating food-grade collagen into food products to enhance their nutritional benefits and comments on any waste streams created from the extraction process and how these can either be utilised or disposed of.
Key Areas of Interest
- Food Production: Innovative uses of hides and skins in food products.
- Non-Food Production: New applications in industries outside of food eg. Nutraceuticals, Biomaterials, Cosmetics, Medical Applications
- Collagen-Based Products: Advanced technologies in collagen extraction with a focus on developing new products from the extracted collagen.
Proposal Requirements
Proposals should:
- Present a clear, innovative solution for utilising sheep skins and beef hides.
- Demonstrate the potential for increased returns for processors.
- Include detailed descriptions of the proposed applications and technologies.
- Highlight the feasibility and scalability of the proposed solution.
Submission Details
Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals through the Leading Edge Only platform. The submission should include:
- A comprehensive description of the proposed solution.
- Evidence of the solution's potential impact on increasing returns from skins and hides.
- Any supporting data or research that validates the proposal.
What's in it for you?
By participating in this challenge, innovators will have the opportunity to:
Collaborate with Leading Industry Players - Work directly with red meat processors across Australia, gaining valuable industry insights.
Leverage Research Partnerships - Benefit from AMPC's extensive relationships with various research organisations both within Australia and internationally.
Access Funding Opportunities - Utilise AMPC's co-funding opportunity and ability to secure matched funding from the Commonwealth government
Receive Comprehensive Support - AMPC has the capacity to support concepts/solutions at multiple stages of readiness, from initial ideation through to full-scale demonstration and implementation
Participating in this challenge not only provides a platform to showcase your innovative ideas but also offers the support and resources necessary to bring your concepts to life and drive real change in the industry.
If you have or are developing solutions, or if you have expertise in the above, please click "Apply" to submit your solution/expertise.