Agricultural economist and former Federal Government trade minister Andrew Robb will present his view of the the challenges and opportunities for increasing beef exports into Asia, particularly China, at the NT Cattlemen’s Association annual conference starting on Friday.

Former trade minister Andrew Robb

Mr Robb will emphasise the importance of building relationships and supply chains.

The former Trade Minister will also focus on the importance of foreign capital investment in the northern beef industry.

Mr Robb is well qualified to discuss subjects of crucial importance to Territory pastoralists. He was executive director of the Cattle Council of Australia in the 1980s and later executive director of the National Farmers Federation, before entering politics.

As trade minister, he drove ground-breaking Free Trade Agreements with China, Japan and South Korea.

NTCA chief executive Tracey Hayes said the association was delighted to have someone of Andrew Robb’s calibre as the keynote speaker at this year’s conference in Darwin.

Other conference speakers include Rabobank’s senior Brazil-based analyst Adolfo Fontes.

Interviewed by Beef Central on Monday for this article, Mr Fontes will detail how Brazil is capitalising on the world’s growing demand for protein by pushing into established Australian markets, such as China and the United States.

Mr Fontes will give a first-hand account of Brazil’s beef-producing capacity, its place in a constantly changing world and the possibilities for further expanding into Australia’s markets.

Regular Beef Central columnist Dr Ross Ainsworth will talk about Asian beef markets, and Andrew Simpson from Meat & Livestock Australia will discuss the global beef position.

A panel discussion in the afternoon will cover many of the vital issues facing pastoralists, including the Beetaloo Basin shale gas project, diversification on cattle stations, water policy, live exports versus processing, and positioning the NT industry for prosperity.

• The NT Cattlemen’s Association annual conference will be held at the Darwin Convention Centre on Friday, March 31. Beef Central’s James Nason will be in attendance, providing reports.