An app that aims to improve animal welfare and supply chain communication by tracking livestock trucks from paddock to destination is being developed with the support of a $930,000 Australian Government grant.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Direct Livestock’s ‘TruckTracker’ application is one of 16 projects to share in $4 million funding under the first round of the Traceability Grants Program.
“Initially focusing on the beef supply chain, this mobile and web app improves traceability by tracking cattle trucks and digitising the current information flow,” Minister Littleproud said.
“The app will enable the sharing of location information with the buyer, seller and transport company in real-time, improving communication and transparency while promoting animal welfare and provenance.
“It can also be easily adaptable to suit other livestock industries and the grain and fodder industries.
“Our farmers are renowned for thinking outside the square and this is a fantastic example of Australian agricultural innovation that reinforces and promotes our image as a producer of clean, green and safe food.
“The Australian Government invests in projects like these because modern, accurate, and timely traceability systems help provide even stronger assurances to our trading partners and consumers about the safety and quality of our fantastic produce.
“Effective traceability systems are critical for growth in our access to export markets.
“It’s important we respond to demand from consumers domestically and internationally for greater transparency and real time convenience around the origins and safety of agricultural products in modern digital marketplaces.
“As the world emerges from the COVID pandemic, any market access edge we can secure for our farmers now will reap dividends for them and our economy into the future.”
The Traceability Grants Program is part of the Modernising Agricultural Trade agenda announced by the Australian Government to support the target of a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
The $7 million program will run over a minimum of two rounds from now until June 2023.
