JBS Northern Division COO Brendan Tatt addressing this morning’s Protein 2026 conference at Dalby.

WITH 44 percent of Australia’s registered feedlots located within a 200km radius, Dalby provided a fitting  location for today’s national protein conference, as local councillor George Moore noted in welcoming 200 delegates to the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise’s Protein 2026 event this morning.

Event organiser, TSBE Food Leaders Australia general manager Rowie Beveridge, pointed out that agriculture and protein production is “foundational” to the region, which is home to $1.4b grain fed beef industry, a $900 million grain industry, 65 percent of Queensland’s pork production and 85pc of its egg production.

TSBE Food Leaders Australia general manager Rowie Beveridge and Kelli McDougall, Agri Talent, at this morning’s conference.

“These industries are critical not only to regional prosperity but to Australia’s food security, this is why there is a real opportunity and responsibility for the energy sector to direct social license investment toward protecting and strengthening the industries that underpin this region,” Ms Beveridge said.

“Practical partnerships in areas like biosecurity infrastructure, processing capability, and agri manufacturing can deliver for both industry and community.

“A world class biosecurity washtub facility, for instance, along the Warrego Highway would go a very long way in protecting us against an outbreak like FMD, and initiatives like this would demonstrate genuine commitment to a coexistence and a shared regional prosperity, it would position energy companies and proactive partners in protecting Australia’s food production systems and creating a leading example nationally of how we balance energy development with the agricultural sustainability.”

Fresh insights from China

On an early panel this morning JBS Northern division Chief Operating Officer Brendan Tatt said the company draws about 600,000 grainfed cattle out from the local region.

Mr Tatt had just returned from China to speak at this morning’s conference and was asked for his thoughts on when the 55 percent safeguard tariff on Australian beef imports is likely to be triggered.

He said his guess was “mid-June”, adding that he also felt that rumours suggesting China may change the policy before that happens were probably misplaced.

“I don’t believe there’ll be a softening of the stance by China,” he said.

“They don’t need to change things. They’re a massive domestic herd that’s under a lot of pressure at the moment.

“Chinese farmers are losing money and still liquidating, they’ve got FMD, which is probably supercharging that liquidation a bit.

“So between that, there’s a lot of meat gone into the market early from both Australia and Brazil to beat this quota, so they front loaded their year’s buy, so I don’t think that the quota, I think it holds.”

The Protein 2026 conference is looking at the future of protein through the lenses of trade, tech and talent.

More reports to come on Beef Central in coming days.

Scroll down to see pictures of people attending today’s event in Dalby.

Western Downs Regional Council councillor George Moore and Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Condamine Pat Weir.

French agricultural student Laura Doucede from Toulouse, Amanda Kenafake from Power Tynan Toowoomba Nancy Nixon, Bunya Range lamb and beef.

Tom Mitchell, Condabri Beef with Claire Stewart and Alyse Wood from Profeedlot and Jake Quinn, NAPCo.

Justin Heaven, Agri Talent and Rebecca Bennett, NRG-ONE

Beef Central journalist and Week in Beef podcast co-host Lydia Burton moderating an on-stage panel with Karen Penfold, Four Daughters Beef and Kelli McDougall, Agri Talent.

A crowd of close to 200 stakeholders from the protein production sector bringing together the beef, chicken, pork and grain industries at today’s event in Dalby.

TSBE representatives Nilesh Prassad, Sophie Kluckhohn, Kathleen Munk and Anna Geddes.

Lauren Roellgen, Future Farmers Network, speaking on a panel alongside Karen Penfold, Kelli McDougall and Bryce Camm.

Beef Central and The Week in Beef Podcast co-host Eric Barker moderating a panel with Kellie Banditt, Wellcamp Airport; Rachel Chambers, Qld Food Farmers Commissioner; Brad Tresidder, Gallagher Insurance and Brendan Tatt, JBS.

Emily Coggan, Coggan Farms, speaking on a panel alongside Will Onus, Ruminati and Jarrod Jackson, Doover.

James Beveridge, RMCG and Tim Ford, Feed Central and Local Ag.

Scott Reed, Wunda Park Grazing and Multikraft and Brett Harrison, DOM Group.