$68M for Ag traceability

9th February 2022

New England producers to benefit from $68 million step up on ag traceability

  • Australian Government is investing $68.4 million in agricultural traceability
  • Traceability is key to maintaining our international reputation and securing international market premiums for Australian producers.
  • Initiative will see:
    • A National traceability Summit and establishment of a national agriculture traceability alliance.
    • A virtual hub to keep industry up to date with consumer trends, develop national data standards and take advantage of new technologies.
    • Grants to promote uptake and development of new technology and systems to reduce regulatory and traceability costs.

More than $68 million in Australian Government funding will shore up Australia’s agricultural traceability systems and increase access to premium overseas markets.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, and Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud, said investing in strong traceability frameworks and systems could add up to $1 billion a year to the bottom line of Australian farmers.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the hub will be a way for government and industry groups to work together to create successful traceability projects that will deliver financial benefits to our farmers, including in New England.

“Traceability systems will continue to show consumers that our products are safe, clean and meet sustainability standards,” Minister Joyce said.

“Customers have shown they are willing to pay more for a product that can meet provenance and sustainability standards so our farmers will get a better price for their product.

“On the other side of the coin, by using the latest technology and data we are helping our farmers reduce their costs of production.

The Government is committed to help and we are:

  • establishing a coalition of stakeholders across government and industry, the National Agricultural Traceability Alliance, to foster national leadership on traceability initiatives.
  • Holding a National Traceability Summit so we can all share our ideas, get on the same page and establish platforms for sharing experiences.
  • Create a National Agricultural Traceability Hub to deliver a traceability capability, agree to common data standards and harnessing the power technologies such as blockchain in order to demonstrate the provenance of Australia’s agricultural exports while reducing compliance burdens. 
  • Provide grants to encourage innovation in traceability against the roadmap, to generate value and promote them across cross all our primary industries.

“We know we produce some of the best produce in the world. By enhancing traceability and transparency at every step in the supply chain, we can make sure the rest of the world knows this as well,” Minister Litteproud said.

You can find out more on agricultural traceability initiatives at https://www.awe.gov.au/.

Fast Facts:

  • Australia could lock in between $400 million and $1 billion of additional value if traceability can demonstrate provenance, sustainability or organics. For example, certified ‘grass fed beef’ gets an additional $1 per kilogram

  • in the US market, of which half goes back to the grower.
  • Harmonisation of traceability frameworks and regulatory technology could save businesses $225-$325 million per year by reducing staffing and streamlining paper processes.
  • Enhancements to improve the speed and accuracy of traceability could reduce the economic impact of a biosecurity outbreak by 78-89 percent over ten years, saving $15‑$17 billion.

News for February 2022