South Australia’s livestock industry is strengthening its biosecurity capacity with a new app and a new state-based plan.
Key points:
- South Australia’s meat industry is streamlining biosecurity
- The whole supply chain has decided on priorities to protect the industry
- Australia is facing increased risks of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease after outbreaks in Indonesia
The augmented reality app Sheep EAD AR is an educational tool for people in the livestock industry about disease signs, but it is not a diagnostic tool.
The technology was developed by South Australian company Think Digital.
SA Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the app would teach people what symptoms looked like for varying diseases including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) specifically for sheep.
“This tool enables them to actually have a bit of fun but also find out what sorts of symptoms to be looking for,” Ms Scriven said.
“Biosecurity is a particular focus of this country at the moment with the concerns overseas about foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.”
South Australia’s livestock industry has developed a blueprint to streamline its biosecurity practices and priorities.(ABC Rural: Airlie Felton-Taylor)
SA’s biosecurity plan
South Australia’s first state-based industry-led biosecurity blueprint was launched at the Growing SA conference along with the new app.
Livestock SA president Joe Keynes said the plan had five priority areas: enhancing biosecurity culture, taking a unified approach, building capacity across the supply chain, preparedness and prevention, and strong and effective traceability.
“As we go about our duties [biosecurity] should be just part of the way of doing business,” he said.
“We need to include and make sure that we have a unified approach to biosecurity practice across the whole supply chain.
“We need to understand that we’ve got to have people, we’ve got to have resources to support farmers doing their best biosecurity practices.”
Joe Keynes says the industry is working together to protect against pest, disease and invasive weed incursions.(ABC News: Claire Campbell)
The biosecurity blueprint was developed following the inaugural Livestock Biosecurity Summit earlier this year.
Industry representatives from across the state’s supply chain contributed.
Its aim is to make biosecurity more streamlined and to determine where resources and investment are most needed.
Finding ways to reduce risk
With the increased risk of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease following outbreaks in Indonesia, Mr Keynes said the industry was focusing primarily on prevention and preparedness.
He said they had been testing different scenarios with the primary industries department and Biosecurity SA.
“All of the pillars are equally important if we’re going to have really good biosecurity practice and keep our market access,” he said.
Livestock SA is aiming to hire a second biosecurity officer to implement the biosecurity blueprint.
The biosecurity blueprint aims to keep market access open.(ABC Rural: Leonie Thorne)
Biosecurity Act under review
The South Australian government is currently updating the Biosecurity Act.
Work had started under the previous Liberal Marshall government, but it is being reviewed.
Ms Scriven said the government aimed to release the draft bill by the end of the year for public consultation.
“It’s important that if we have a new Biosecurity Act that it is usable and effective for everyone,” she said.
