The question of what constitutes sustainability hangs heavily over Australia’s substantial meat industries, but Dr Benjamin Holman (MBAFutureBus ’25) is providing scientific answers that are advantageous for industry, consumers and the environment.
As Senior Research Scientist in Meat Science for the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Dr Holman is the ‘go to’ meat scientist for many in industry and the scientific community – with his studies of farm effects, meat shelf-life extension and the factors that promote healthful qualities in meat having a substantial influence on positive change within Australian meat production.
“The red meat industry must keep moving towards better sustainability goals – which means more and better-quality meat through using less resources,” says Dr Holman. “There is growing awareness of the impact of livestock production on the environment, so science has to provide answers that will improve efficiencies and outcomes.”
His research has validated sustainable meat packaging that achieves up to 15% extension of lamb shelf-life – safely enabling storage of up to 20-weeks for chilled meat – which Dr Holman says ultimately reduces plastic waste and the environmental impact from meat processing.
He has also defined storage conditions that can deliver high quality and tender beef, 60% sooner than achieved by conventional means, and proved that frozen storage temperatures that are 30% warmer than conventional practice can preserve red meat for up to 12 months – requiring less energy and reducing food wastage.
Dr Holman is investigating new types of livestock feed to produce meat that is safe, of high quality, and contains more fatty acids and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. And some of these new feed additions are surprisingly simple, yet have stark effects.
“The daily introduction of 20 grams of spirulina (a nutrient-dense, blue-green algae considered a superfood due to its high protein content, vitamins minerals and antioxidants) into a sheep’s diet has a marked effect on boosting Omega 3 fatty acids in lamb meat, which adds considerable nutritional value to these meat products.”
Next will come examination and testing of more animal foodstuffs to improve meat quality – different forage combinations, but also cast-offs from the human food supply chain. “We have to look more seriously at using more of the by-products of human food consumption to feed animals, to reduce the volume of inputs to high-quality meat production.”
Dr Holman’s renown as a scientist is verified by a slew of major awards – including the 2017 and 2020 Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, making him the first person to win this national award twice. He is actively involved in the Australian Association of Animal Science, the Royal Society of NSW and provides mentorship through the UTAS Student Mentor Program and the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, which he won in 2012.
However, beyond his scientific talents, he also places great value on the Master of Business Administration Future Business that he studied at Flinders University and completed in 2025.
“A scientist can no longer be just a one-trick pony; they must also be able to see their research through a business perspective to ensure its relevance and ensure continued support,” says Dr Holman.
“I’ve seen opportunities for success through applying novel scientific ideas to business models that produce better outcomes to both products and profitability, while also making clear environmental sense.”
Dr Holman says his MBA gave him access to many project management roles that have led to better economic outcomes through innovation, and these successes have built further support for future projects. “Australia is such a massive food producer that it needs smart answers to pave a more productive and sustainable future. It’s not just science for its own sake; it’s about pragmatic progress.
“It breeds more confidence in smart scientific investigation – and that’s what I find so exciting about agriculture. There is still so much more to explore.”
Dr Benjamin Holman has been awarded a 2025 Early Career Alumni Award for significant and innovative contributions to the national agrifood sector, to reduce environmental impact.