Victorian lamb showcased to international chefs

Victorian lamb meat is being shown off to global markets as part of Meat and Livestock Australia’s Lambassador program, which is welcoming international chefs into the country to learn about the state’s lamb and its producers.

The Lambassador program is being given support with a $2.5 million grant as part of the Global Victoria Export Recovery Fund and Agriculture Victoria’s Food to Market program. It is designed to change how businesses and consumers in other countries see the meat, boosting its sales internationally. The program has been running since 2015 and each year sees global delegates — the Lambassadors — visiting Victoria to see how lamb is sourced and its culinary potential.

The program was run virtually during the early years of the pandemic but has now returned to in-person events, with the group of visiting chefs travelling through regional Victoria to see how lamb is produced and learning new ways of cooking the meat.

Victoria is the largest sheep meat exporter in the country, with its exports valued at $1.4 billion, and the program is due to increase global exports by boosting the industry’s profile in markets such as Japan, Vietnam and South Korea.

“Teaching world-class international chefs more about Victoria’s high-quality, premium lamb and the exciting range of culinary possibilities it presents through the Lambassador program is an innovative way to promote and boost the industry’s global export potential,” said Meat and Livestock Australia General Manager International Markets Andrew Cox.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Maksim Toome