5 Dec 2012

Programme could produce new beef products

8:48 am on 5 December 2012

A new generation of beef products could result from an initiative seeking to increase returns to the primary sector by getting more value from cattle carcasses.

ANZCO's Food and Solutions division is running the new Foodplus programme.

Chief executive Rennie Davidson says project managers and food scientists have been recruited and some initial research has been done identifying new markets to explore.

He says they are looking at making use of waste products that might currently be going into meat and bone meal, and enhancing their value.

"We're also looking at lower value cuts - the trims of the beef animal - and looking to see how we can create a new generation of food products that aresuitable for various in-market applications."

Mr Davidson says consumer needs will drive the research.

Foodplus is a joint industry-government programme that will receive more than $43 million in funding from the Government's Primary Growth Partnership fund over the next seven years.