Victoria’s livestock industries will be supported with grants from the Andrews Labor Government to further strengthen the state’s biosecurity and to prevent and manage pests and diseases.
Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today announced 25 projects worth $9.5 million have been successful under the 2020 Livestock Biosecurity Funds Grant Program.
The grants fund projects that provide innovative solutions, use emerging technologies and tackle livestock biosecurity issues, needs or gaps for the industries.
The grants are administered from the four livestock compensation funds – cattle, sheep and goat, swine and honeybee industries.
The grants include funding for the Victorian Farmers Federation to conduct a producer-led biosecurity extension program funded by both the cattle and sheep and goat compensation funds, for the Livestock Saleyards Association of Victoria to complete the ‘Managing Transit Stock in Saleyards’ project and for HiveKeepers to complete the ‘Smart Sentinel Beehives Pilot Program’.
Government projects funded include the continuation of the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Livestock Identification System for both sheep and cattle, Significant Disease Investigation programs, animal disease investigation courses and abattoir-based pig health surveillance and prevention of anthrax.
Other grant recipients include La Trobe University, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Agrinous, Victorian Apiarists’ Association and the Victorian Recreational Beekeepers Association, all delivering projects to support biosecurity in Victoria.
Changes to legislation last year through the Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2019 has meant that more money is now available for programs administered from 2020. For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestockbiosecurityfunds.
As stated by Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes
“Biosecurity is fundamental to the wellbeing and prosperity of our agricultural sector. Exotic pests and diseases can threaten this – so we need to be proactive in identifying and responding to potential breaches.”
“We have a track record in Victoria in identifying and managing biosecurity risks, but we are always facing new threats. This funding helps industry meet those emerging challenges.”
