Food Agility has been named as a foundational member of the Australian Agricultural Traceability Strategic Reference Group (AATSRG) by the federal government.
The AATSRG has been established to help industry enhance traceability systems, helping to boost Australia’s biosecurity and grow trade relationships.
The group is comprised of government representatives, the private sector, industry and research community including; Food Agility, Australian Wool Exchange, Australian Sugar Milling Council, Australian Meat Industry Council, Seafood Industry Australia, National Farmers’ Federation and CSIRO.
Under the first ever National Agricultural Traceability Strategy 2023 to 2033, the AATSRG will provide technical, operational, and strategic advice to the Australian Agricultural Traceability Governance Group and other technical working groups.
Food Agility is represented in the group by its Data Policy Manager, Gabriela Ceregra. In June, Food Agility announced it had recieved $5m in funding from the 'Data Enabled Proof of Concepts Grant' to lead industry-government projects to test data-enabled traceability concepts.
AATSRG will focus on current and emerging issues, research priorities and implementation approaches for Australia’s agricultural traceability systems.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt said agricultural traceability plays a key role in protecting and growing Australian agriculture.
“Agricultural traceability provides the evidence needed to maintain trust as a provider of high-quality, safe and sustainable food and fibre products,” Minister Watt said.
“The faster and more accurately animals are traced, the quicker we can respond and recover from any biosecurity 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 investment builds upon the already strong traceability frameworks in place that maintain food safety, provenance and biosecurity credentials.
“Australia has a great story to tell and improving our agricultural traceability systems helps us communicate that to the world.”
Read the full media release via the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry here.
