Australia's livestock traceability system will get a technological boost to meet growing consumer demand, while improving Australia's biosecurity, food safety, and market access.
The Albanese Government has awarded a $22.5 million grant to Integrity Systems Company Limited (ISC) to enhance the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database and its supporting systems.
The funding, announced in the October Budget, will help to modernise Australia's data capture, storage, and distribution system for tracking livestock and their movements, helping industry and producers adapt to changing consumer and market needs into the future.
The database will deliver significant system-wide traceability benefits for all animal species captured by the NLIS and allow for future additions to the system.
The grant will also support the delivery of a platform that can accommodate additional data inputs from other systems, which will assist in demonstrating Australia's agricultural credentials and compliance with international market access requirements, including sustainability and animal welfare.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the NLIS Uplift Grant was part of the Government's $46.7 million commitment to work with industry and state and territory governments to improve national livestock traceability arrangements over the next three years.
"Traceability plays a key role in protecting and growing Australian agriculture, and we need the right tools in place to see it thrive," Minister Watt said.
"The NLIS is key to maintaining world-class livestock traceability, because the faster and more accurately animals are traced, the quicker we can respond and recover from any emergency animal disease outbreak.
"There are also trade benefits with increasing demand for proof of origin and sustainability for Australian livestock and meat products, so this will help to maintain and develop market access overseas.
"This uplift will also make the NLIS easier to use for farmers and producers.
"It will streamline reporting processes, linking to the electronic national vendor declaration system (eNVD), and farmers will be able to see the information they have entered into the system and where their stock have moved.
"Australia has world-leading livestock traceability systems, and enhancements like these will ensure they continue to meet our needs into the future."
The grant is expected to run until June 30, 2026.
