CSIRO data project to give exporters digital edge

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, The Hon. David Littleproud MP

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, The Hon. Karen Andrews MP

  • CSIRO awarded grant to enhance beef and horticulture export compliance systems.
  • Third-party digital tracing platforms critical in building capacity to handle greater export volumes.
  • The project is one of 16 to share in $4 million Traceability Grants Program funding.
  • Australia’s national science agency CSIRO is leading an Australian Government-supported project that will harness the power of data and digital platforms to reduce the cost and complexity of exporting food.

    Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said automating food supply chain information flow would futureproof our traceability system.

    “The current paper-based method for recording supply chain information is fast becoming old school and potentially risks our competitive advantage,” Minister Littleproud said.

    “CSIRO is working with the horticulture and beef industries on a system that will automate the testing of produce for export compliance on digital tracing systems.

    “This will build resilience into our fresh food supply chains and boost the traceability system’s capacity to handle increasing export volumes.

    “Digitising information flow also supports faster, more accurate tracking of food from paddock to plate, enhancing Brand Australia and maintaining consumer confidence.

    “In a global market where premium food commands a premium price, trust is our greatest asset, and even more so in these challenging times.

    “Modernising export compliance for Australian food is essential if we are to grow agriculture into a $100 billion industry by 2030.”

    Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Australian Government was supporting CSIRO’s work with $200,000 in Traceability Grants Program funding.

    “This is another great example of how cutting-edge digital technologies can be used to drive growth in our most traditional export industries,” Minister Andrews said.

    “We know Australian products, particularly our first class food, are in high demand around the world and we need to do what we can to support our industries to benefit from that demand.”

    CSIRO’s work will be informed by extensive engagement with Horticultural Innovation Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand to better understand the required data workflows for export compliance.

    As part of the project, CSIRO will conduct new research into the digitisation of regulations and test approaches to automating export compliance using horticulture and beef use cases.

    The CSIRO is co-investing in the Technology Roadmap project.

    For more details visit the Traceability Grants Program website.

    Fast Facts:

    • The Traceability Grants Program supports industry projects that will enhance our agricultural supply chain traceability systems, including developing and trialling technologies that digitise information flow.
    • The program also aims to provide an advantage for our exporters and to increase opportunities to export Australian commodities.
    • The program is part of the Australian Government’s Modernising Agricultural Trade agenda to support the target of a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.

    /Public Release. View in full here.