Joint media release: New traceability grants to strengthen agricultural trade

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
Assistant Minister for Resources, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm

The Albanese Labor Government continues to deliver support to farmers and agricultural exporters, with 10 new grants that will enhance Australia’s agricultural traceability systems to share in $4 million.

The grants will support industry to grow its trade relationships, and enable more effective responses to biosecurity and food safety incidents.

The Albanese Labor Government has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for our farmers and producers to export our world-class products on the international stage and these new grants build on this work.

Australia's agricultural, fisheries, and forestry exports are forecast to reach around $86 billion this financial year, underscoring the importance of these grants.

This latest round of the Traceability Grants Program supports initiatives that strengthen Australia’s traceability systems and enhance the integration and transparency of agricultural supply chains. 
 
The grants will help recipients to develop and trial technologies that digitise information flow and provide advantages for our producers in international markets.

A successful example from the previous grant round is a PigPass app developed by Australian Pork Limited that enables real time tracking of pig movements and supports transition from paper based to digital declarations.

Innovative technologies such as PigPass that are supported through this grant program reduce compliance costs, enable simpler ways to provide assurance to trading partners, and enhance biosecurity protections and responses.   

The projects funded through round 4 of the program showcase diverse approaches to improving traceability and supporting industry participants to expand into export markets while remaining competitive.  

The Traceability Grant Program is part of the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy 2023 to 2033.

For a list of recipients and for more information, visit: www.agriculture.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Julie Collins Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

“Australia is a global leader in agricultural traceability and the Albanese Labor Government is committed to building on this success.

“These new grants will support cutting-edge solutions to better track agricultural commodities and products along supply chains, reinforcing trust in Australian agriculture.

“This trust is critical to Australia’s agricultural export success.

“Under our Government, market access for our farmers and producers is the most diversified it has ever been, providing our farmers with the best platform for continued growth.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Anthony Chisholm:

“Australian farmers continue to deliver record results, and the Albanese Government is providing the tools they need to continue to break records.

“Farmers know that improved traceability leads to better commercial outcomes and greater success in global markets.

“As our Government continues to expand trade opportunities for our ag sector, this next funding round is about safeguarding our exports while empowering farmers to innovate and develop new ways of improving their supply chain traceability.”