Delivering Australia's first national traceability strategy

Plans to turbo-charge Australia’s agricultural traceability systems have reached another milestone this month, with the first meeting of the Australian Agricultural Traceability Governance Group.

Traceability is the ability to follow the movement of a product through stages of production, processing and distribution to show consumers and countries we export to, that our products are safe, clean, and sustainable from paddock to plate.

The group, who met last week, will provide guidance on priorities and action for Australia’s agricultural traceability systems.

The group will be a part of a broader governance framework for the Australian Agricultural Traceability Alliance, which includes stakeholders such as producers, employees, state and territory governments, retailers, logistics firms and data services providers, and exporters. 

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt said a key priority for the group is developing Australia’s first ever national agricultural traceability strategy.

“Increasingly consumers want to know where their foods and fibres come from, and with Australia’s exports in demand around the world, we have a great story to tell – but we have been missing a national approach,” Minister Watt said.

“Agricultural traceability provides the evidence to maintain trust as a provider of high quality, safe and sustainable food and fibre products. 

“Our traceability systems will be increasingly essential to opening new markets for our exports, as well as keeping and growing the ones we have. 

“It’s great to see businesses and governments working together to co-design a future-focused traceability system that proves our supply chain credentials.

“As well as the commercial benefits, a type of contact tracing system for livestock is crucial for our biosecurity preparedness and response, which will help us recover faster if exotic pests or diseases get into or emerge in our country. 

“It can also support First Nations agriculture by demonstrating authenticity and protecting cultural intellectual property.”

Further information about National Agricultural Traceability can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.