The Ministry for Primary Industries and industry partners have signed a funding contract for a meat research programme.
The Government is paying for half of the $64 million Red Meat Profit Partnership while the other half is paid for by meat companies, agribusinesses and farmers through Beef + Lamb levies.
Independent chair dairy farmer and Fonterra director Malcolm Bailey says the seven year programme will focus on what happens behind the farm gate, lifting production and profits for sheep and beef farms.
He says it's designed to fit in with other Primary Growth Partnership-funded industry research programmes, including FarmIQ.
Mr Bailey says getting farmers hooked in is an essential part of the programme.
