Roo firm targets jump in exports

AN Ipswich-based meat processing company will boost its kangaroo exports if a State Government-backed tracking system is successful.

Game Meat Processing at Wulkuraka recently started trialling a Radio Frequency Identification Device system to track every kangaroo that comes through its doors.

The $61,000 State Government funded trial was initiated after the European Union and other international markets demanded kangaroo harvesters update their current paper-based traceback system.

Rex De Vantier, the general manager of Game Meat Processing’s parent company VIP Petfoods, said the project had the potential to increase the demand internationally for kangaroo meat.

With Game Meat Processing the country’s largest kangaroo meat exporter, Mr De Vantier said the Ipswich business would be ready to take full advantage of any increase.

“For countries that traditionally like game meat, of which there are plenty in Europe and some Asian countries, kangaroo meat is already extremely popular,” he said.

“It’s popular in a lot of restaurants and hotels as a high-quality game meat.

“But if our tracking standards are seen to be improved, we believe the demand for kangaroo meat could grow. Only time will tell but we’re heading in the right direction.”

Radio Frequency Identification Device technology is already used in Australia to identify casino gambling chips, but this will be the first time it is used for kangaroo and wild game harvesting. The identification tag is fixed to the animal and records specific information about each kangaroo, including time, date and GPS location of harvest.

Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the trial would last for two months.

“The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) will supply an economist to look at the true economic advantages,” he said. Mr Mulherin said Safe Food Production Queensland would trial a different tag using barcode technology already used in the red meat industry.