• Charles Sturt and MLA invest in red meat industry through the $2.4 million NextGen Data capability Program
• The program will combine MLA’s data with Charles Sturt’s expertise in data science, analytics and AI
• The program will give 15 Charles Sturt students hands-on experience working on MLA’s priority data

Charles Sturt University and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) are investing in future capability for the red meat industry through the NextGen Data Capability Program, a collaborative initiative worth $2.4 million.

The program will accelerate MLA’s industry-wide digital transformation while creating paid, real-world opportunities for Charles Sturt students.

The program will combine MLA’s data and digital challenges with Charles Sturt’s expertise in data science, analytics and artificial intelligence.

Under the program, approximately 15 Charles Sturt computing and maths students will gain hands-on experience working on MLA’s priority data use cases and business projects.

These projects will tackle real industry challenges such as:

• Improving production efficiency while maintaining product quality
• Opportunities to drive higher returns through growth and value optimisation
• AI-driven insights from research libraries
• Carbon footprint calculation per animal to estimate emissions and support sustainability goals
• Enhance products and operations through customer insight analytics

Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon said the program reflects the University’s commitment to producing job-ready graduates and driving innovation in agriculture.

“This collaboration is about embedding cutting-edge data and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into our courses while giving students the chance to work on problems that matter to industry right now,” Professor Leon said.

“It’s a win-win – MLA accelerates its digital transformation and our students build the skills and confidence to become the workforce of the future.”

Professor Leon emphasised that the program strengthens the University’s mission to deliver the skilled agricultural workforce regional Australia needs.

“Regional industries are crying out for graduates who can combine traditional agricultural knowledge with advanced digital and data skills,” she said.

“This program ensures our students are not only job-ready but equipped to lead the next wave of innovation in agriculture, supporting productivity and sustainability across regional communities.”

Integrity Systems Company Chief Executive Officer Ms Jo Quigley said MLA’s Strategic Plan makes it clear that data is one of the industry’s most powerful tools.

“To fully realise that potential, we need to have both advanced digital systems and the people who can design, build and apply them to complex real-world problems,” she said.

“Charles Sturt University has strong capability in advanced data disciplines. What their students need is access to real-world agricultural problems. This program brings those two strengths together in a shared solution that benefits everyone.”

The NextGen Data Capability Program will establish a joint steering committee, quarterly showcases and a research project to evaluate the impact of the partnership model.

Outcomes will include advanced analytics resources, business cases and contributions to initiatives such as the Australian Agricultural Data Exchange.