Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has launched its Lambassador Delegation, 2023.
The program, which began in Japan in 2015, has grown to a community of over 50 food professionals worldwide who are passionate about Australian lamb.
Nineteen leading chefs and influencers from Japan, Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines have come together this month in Melbourne to stage the event.
Delivered in collaboration with the Victorian Government, a week of jam-packed activities provides an opportunity for these food professionals to immerse themselves in all things Australian lamb, including farm visits, butchery demonstrations, cooking masterclasses, and the exploration of Melbourne’s vibrant food scene and local industry trends.
Josh Anderson, Global Business Manager at MLA said that as the world’s largest exporter of lamb, Australia is renowned for producing a high-quality, sustainable product.
“Australian lamb is enjoyed in over 100 countries. Through the Lambassador program, international chefs and food professionals are empowered to learn and share the Australian Lamb story to their global network, driving international demand for this premium product,” Anderson said.
“Victoria is the largest sheep meat exporter in Australia. The program will help to grow global exports by boosting the profile and understanding of lamb in key overseas markets,” said Mr Anderson.
Throughout the week, the Lambassadors will also have the opportunity to share ideas on innovative lamb uses and network with stakeholders within the lamb supply chain. Importantly, they will learn from each other as they create lamb dishes inspired by regional flavours.
Chef Seung Jae (John) Lee from Toronto, Canada who attended 2022’s Lambassador Delegation said that the experience enriched his understanding of Australian lamb.
“Lamb is an incredibly versatile, high quality and tasty red meat that we’re incorporating more and more into our menus,” Lee said.
“The Lambassador program helps us to better understand how lamb in Australia is raised, looked after, processed and cooked – this benefits the delegation’s ultimate goal, creating amazing meals for our customers across many cultures” said Chef Lee.
The Lambassador Delegation 2023 is a testament to MLA’s commitment to promoting Australian lamb on the global stage, and the Victorian Government’s support of the local industry.
Through this program, MLA hopes to continue to strengthen relationships with key international markets and drive demand for Australian lamb.
