Overseas delegates Zhao Qingfang from Lingfeng Butcher, and Philip Fan, Ausvidge Consulting, with Stanbroke Beef plant manager Jim Friis on the Stanbroke stand during Beef 2018

BEEF Australia 2024 has set the ambitious target of attracting 10,000 international visitors to next year’s triennial event, either in person or online, after COVID travel restrictions removed overseas visitors from the last event in 2021.

Reflecting the Australian meat and livestock industry’s strong export focus, overseas visitor participation has been an important feature of the triennial event ever since the first Beef Expo was held back in 1988.

Many overseas visitors are attracted to attend through business opportunities in boxed beef, live cattle exports, genetics exports, as well as accessing agtech and other Australian products and services to do with the cattle and beef industry.

Past events have attracted strong representations from the US, Canada, countries across South America; Indonesia, China, Japan and other regions of northern and southern Asia; and across the Pacific islands.

Beef Australia’s reputation is inherently linked to its ability to engage with stakeholders across the entire beef supply chain to create long lasting and mutually beneficial relationships, event organisers said in a statement this morning.

“The Beef Australia International Program and Handshakes Program play vital roles in expanding these relationships on a global scale,” Beef Australia chief executive Simon Irwin said.

Simon Irwin

“The organisation is looking forward to welcoming back international delegates through their highly anticipated International Program and 2024 Handshakes Program. While the 2021 event was an enormous success, one thing was missing – our international visitors and our ever-successful Handshakes Program”, Mr Irwin said.

Three years earlier, back in 2018, the Rockhampton event saw 1200 international delegates from 43 countries participate in the International Program and close to 700 Handshakes registrations.

At its core, the International Program provides a platform for global industry leaders, producers and stakeholders to come together, exchange knowledge, and explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing the industry. The Handshakes Program, on the other hand, enables participants to engage in face-to-face business matching meetings, discussions, and negotiations, promoting collaboration, understanding, and cooperation among stakeholders.

“In 2024, we’ve set out to welcome 10,000 international visitors back at the gates, participating across our International Program and 2024 Handshakes Program in person or engaging online via our new Beef TV program,” Mr Irwin said.

“For the first time, Handshakes participants, particularly those new to, or thinking about readying their business for international trade and investment opportunities, will also receive free online pitch readiness training provided by Trade and Investment Queensland, giving them the best possible chance of securing funding, sourcing new clients and building strong business partnerships,” he said.

Greg Pankhurst

The International Program, driven by Beef 2024’s International Committee chaired by live export identity Greg Pankhurst, will play a large role in steering the activity of the Program and will work closely with key international stakeholders to enhance trade and investment outcomes in the Australian beef supply chain.

Mr Pankhurst said the committee had many years’ combined experience in the beef industry, particularly in trade and investment.

“With this experience, I’m confident that we can deliver a highly successful program in 2024,” he said.

“By connecting our international community, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for beef production and consumption.”

Program participants can expect to network with key Australian beef industry personnel, join in on the conversation around sustainability, climate change and trade issues, partake in facilitated trade meetings, property tours, educational seminars, be updated on the latest in agtech, witness first-hand Australia’s top genetics, with almost 5000 stud cattle on site, and taste and eat some of Australia’s best beef.

“We’re also looking forward to Beef Australia’s Beef TV program launch, which we know will be a great platform for our international guests to participate in should they not be able to travel to Rockhampton to join in the activities,” Mr Pankhurst said.

“I encourage all interested parties to jump online to find out more, download our brochure which is now available in 10 different languages, and register today.”

The 2024 Beef Australia International Committee includes:

• Greg Pankhurst, Committee Chairman
• Jackie Kyte, Beef Australia International Coordinator
• Fleur Anderson, Department of Agriculture & Fisheries
• Andrew Cox, Meat & Livestock Australia
• Will Evans, NT Cattlemen’s Association
• Michael Finucan, JBS Australia
• Denise Kreymborg, Trade and Investment Qld
• Terry Nolan, Nolan Meats
• Vic O’Keefe, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Kate Power, Kilcoy Global Foods
• Jennifer Wainwright, Aux Venture
• Richard Brosnan, Beef Australia board director

The Beef Australia 2024 International Program is supported by the Australian and Queensland Governments, Trade and Investment Queensland, Meat & Livestock Australia and various industry organisations.

Registrations are open now for both the Beef Australia International Program and 2024 Handshakes Program.

For further information and to register, click here or contact Beef Australia via email here. 

Source: Beef 2024