Sheep meat exports grew to be worth $5.7 billion in 2024-25.
A team of researchers from the School of Business and Law, led by Dr Geremy Farr-Wharton, have been awarded a $499,957 grant from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to support diversifying markets for the Australian sheep industry.
The research project, Sheep Industry Pivot – Diversifying Market Pathways to Enhance Demand for Australian Sheep Products will span over 24 months.
"This is an exciting project to help diversify new Australian sheep products into the Australian, Middle East and North African markets. The project will work closely with farmers and processors to transform existing business models, pivoting towards taking these new products to market," Dr Farr-Wharton said.
"These new business cases will support the overall transition of the sector, which has hit Western Australia in particular, towards a sustainable and thriving future."
The live sheep export by sea industry was worth $411 million in 2002-03 and declined to $50 million in 2024-25. Sheep meat exports grew to be worth $5.7 billion in 2024-25.
The Federal Government has announced $3.6 million in grants to support the Australian sheep industry to seize new trade opportunities as part of its larger Enhancing Market Demand program to support the diversification of Australian agricultural and food products, particularly to the Middle East and North African regions.
This work includes a focus to increase demand and sales of sheep meat at home and abroad as the phase out of live sheep exports by sea progresses, ensuring Australian farmers benefit from the trade of high-quality and ethically produced food and fibre.
