Tech Safeguard: Transforming Australia’s Biosecurity Landscape

Australia is embarking on a transformative journey to revolutionise its biosecurity efforts with the launch of the groundbreaking Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity (CAB) initiative. This strategic initiative represents a fusion of cutting-edge technologies and digital systems, strategically aimed at safeguarding the nation’s native species, crops, livestock, and food supply.

By convening a consortium of Australian biosecurity experts, CAB is poised to drive innovation, research, and investment, ultimately fortifying the country’s biosecurity defences and laying the foundation for a more resilient, digitally-enabled biosecurity system by the year 2030.

This transformative venture, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is set to receive an initial co-investment exceeding AU$55 million over the next six years.

In alignment with the Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 roadmap and the National Biosecurity Strategy, CAB is committed to fostering long-term national biosecurity outcomes through the deployment of innovative technologies and capabilities. These efforts are reinforced by the Australian government’s recent commitment to an additional $1 billion in biosecurity funding over the next four years, as announced in the Biosecurity Sustainable Funding Package in Budget 2023-24.

CAB’s focus areas include:

• Detection and Diagnostic Technologies: Research and development activities aimed at understanding, detecting, and diagnosing priority exotic pests and diseases utilizing advanced technologies and platforms.
• Intelligence Gathering Platforms: Initiatives to gather intelligence-based data to effectively address biosecurity threats and enhance market trade strategies.
• Intervention Technologies: Development and deployment of various technological tools to intervene or mitigate biosecurity impacts, ranging from on-farm solutions to national-level responses. This encompasses sovereign vaccines, antimicrobials, biomanufacturing, novel biocontrol methods, and biopesticides.
• Decision Support Systems and Modelling Platforms: Implementation of systems and platforms to support preparedness and emergency response efforts. This includes scenario planning, national response capability exercises, and real-time outbreak responses facilitated by advanced decision support systems and modelling platforms.
• Social-Economic Support: Initiatives to address the human aspects of shared responsibility and effective governance across the biosecurity system, promoting integrated approaches and community engagement.
• Performance Assurance Mechanisms: Implementation of mechanisms to enhance evaluation, monitoring, and performance testing of the biosecurity system. This includes cost-effectiveness analysis, success evaluation, and assurance mechanisms to ensure progress aligns with targets and objectives.

CSIRO’s Chief Executive, Dr Doug Hilton, underscores the critical importance of biosecurity in safeguarding Australia’s biodiversity, food security, and public health. “Our biosecurity defences must be robust, world-class, and science-based,” asserts Dr  Hilton, emphasising CSIRO’s pivotal role in advancing this initiative.

Adam Fennessy PSM, Secretary and Director of Biosecurity at DAFF, emphasises CAB’s transformative potential in enhancing Australia’s biosecurity research and innovation landscape. Through strategic integration supported by technology, research, and data, CAB aims to realise the vision of a connected, efficient, and science-based biosecurity system outlined in the National Biosecurity Strategy.

CAB’s ambitious agenda includes a suite of innovative projects ranging from preparing for emergency animal diseases to deploying advanced pest management systems and developing real-time biosecurity alerts. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, genomics, robotics, and big data analytics, CAB is poised to revolutionise Australia’s biosecurity capabilities.

Moreover, CAB places a strong emphasis on empowering Indigenous communities to contribute their expertise to national biosecurity efforts, thereby fostering inclusivity and diversity. Additionally, the initiative holds the promise of enhancing regional prosperity and security by providing new funding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity initiative represents a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing complex national challenges. By harnessing technology and fostering strong partnerships, Australia is poised to reinforce its biosecurity defences and safeguard its agricultural industries, environment, and communities for generations to come.