B.AHE.1000 - Grant Agreement RnD4Profit-15-02-032 ‘Improved surveillance, preparedness and return to trade for emergency animal disease incursions using FMD as a model’

Summary

This grant funds the work completed as a part of P.PSH.0779 - ​Improved surveillance, preparedness and return to trade for emergency animal disease incursions using foot-and-mouth disease as a model: The FMD Ready Project.

This project represents not only Phase-3 of the FMD Risk Management Program, building on projects P.PSH.0558 and P.PSH.0652 but, through funding under the Round 2 of the Rural R&D for Profit program, will also deliver a farmer-led animal disease surveillance system, decision support tools for jurisdictions in the event of an Emergency Animal Disease outbreak, and a disease transmission analytical model, exploiting meteorological and other “big data”. An initial cash contribution from affected industry levy reserves held by AHA is matched by the Commonwealth via the MDC. An additional cash contribution from CSU makes up 25% of the project cost, which is matched by in-kind contributions from the participants (CSIRO, CSU, DAWR-ABARES, BOM) to account for 50% of the project cost. This is then matched by the grant from RRnD4P.”

Objectives

The purpose of the Grant is to fund a collaborative research and development (R&D) project to support continued innovation in Australia’s primary industries (the project). The Grant is being provided as part of the Rural R&D for Profit programme (the programme).

The objective of the programme is to realise productivity and profitability improvements for primary producers, through:
- generating knowledge, technologies, products or processes that benefit primary producers
- strengthening pathways to extend the results of rural R&D, including understanding the barriers to adoption
- establishing and fostering industry and research collaborations that form the basis for ongoing innovation and growth of Australian agriculture.

Key findings

The FMD ready project achieved its broad goals relating to Australia’s emergency animal disease preparedness. These goals are detailed further on the P.PSH.0779 report page.

Benefits to industry

The project will strengthen preparedness and facilitate a return to trade for Australia in the event of an emergency animal disease (EAD) incursion, using Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as a model. The project will take a strong multi-disciplinary approach, working closely with animal industries to deliver a systems-based approach to optimise EAD management systems in Australia.

MLA action

MLA continues to invest in research into biosecurity and preparation for potential future emergency animal disease incursions. This includes investments into biosecurity capacity building and extension overseas and in Australia, future vaccines, invasive species and vector control, and traceability systems.

Future research

Researchers and stakeholders identified areas for future research for each of the four sub-projects conducted to further enhance Australia’s readiness for an emergency animal disease incursion:
* rapid diagnosis and vaccination strategy preparedness.
* farmer-led surveillance systems
* decision support tools for decision-making for outbreak management,
* analytical tools to determine the path of farm-to-farm disease transmission.