The Australian Government has announced a $22.5 million technological boost awarded to Australia’s livestock traceability system to meet rising consumer demand while enhancing biosecurity, food safety, and market access.
Integrity Systems Company Limited (ISC) received the funding to improve the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database and its supporting systems.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the NLIS Uplift Grant was part of the Federal Government’s $46.7 million commitment to collaborate with industry and state and territory governments over the next three years to strengthen national livestock traceability systems.
“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 stated.
The funding, which was announced in the October Budget, will contribute to the modernisation of Australia’s data capture, storage, and distribution system for tracking livestock and their movements, assisting industry and farmers in adapting to changing consumer and market needs in the future.
Minister Watt noted that the boost will make NLIS easier for farmers and producers to use.
“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,” he added.
The database will provide significant system-wide traceability benefits for all animal species captured by the NLIS and enable future system expansions.
The grant will also help to fund the development of a platform that can accept data from other systems, which will help demonstrate Australia’s agricultural credentials and compliance with international market access standards, such as sustainability and animal welfare.
“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,” Minister Watt said.
“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,” the Minister stated.
He added that Australia’s livestock traceability systems are among the best in the world, and future enhancements will ensure they continue to meet industry needs.
The grant will run until 30 June 2026.
