Lambassadors at the Melbourne 2022 Delegation. Image – MLA.

CHEFS from across the world are gathering in Melbourne this week as the Lambassador Delegation 2023 to celebrate all things lamb.

Meat & Livestock Australia, with the Victorian Government, announced the program today, that will involve 19 leading chefs and influencers from Japan, Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

From 1-5 May, the food professionals will immerse themselves in all things Australian lamb, including farm visits, butchery demonstrations, cooking masterclasses, and exploration of Melbourne’s vibrant food scene and local industry trends.

The Lambassador program began in Japan in 2015, and has grown to a community of more 50 food professionals worldwide who are passionate about Australian lamb.

MLA global business manager Josh Anderson said as the world’s largest exporter of lamb, Australia is renowned for producing high-quality and sustainable.

“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,” he 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, MLA said.

Chef Seung Jae (John) Lee from Toronto, Canada, who attended 2022’s Lambassador Delegation, said 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.

“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” he said.

Through the program, MLA hopes to continue to strengthen relationships with key international markets and drive demand for Australian lamb.

Source – MLA.