Australian Sheep Producers’ Knowledge of and Attitude towards Post-Harvest Feedback: A Mixed-Methods Case Study

Reducing food loss is a key target for Sustainable Development Goal 12—responsible consumption and production. This study aimed to explore Australian sheep producers’ knowledge of and attitude towards post-harvest feedback and how these influence pre-consumer losses in the Australian sheep meat value chain. A mixed-methods approach was taken, using a structured survey and focus group discussions. Descriptive analysis was performed on the completed structured surveys and framework analysis was performed on the focus group discussion transcripts. The structured survey results showed that sale method was the main factor influencing the quality of feedback received on carcases. No respondents reported receiving feedback on edible offal. Most producers indicated that they wanted more detailed feedback on carcases and all respondents wanted more detailed feedback on edible offal. Four themes emerged from the focus group discussions: situation, knowledge, and attitudes of producers to the feedback system; factors, enablers, and barriers in the feedback system; equity in the feedback system; and sustainability of the value chain. In addition, several short-to-medium- and long-term strategies were identified by the authors to reduce pre-consumer losses in the Australian sheep meat value chain, based on the results of this study.