The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to support Australia's farmers and agricultural exporters with two new investments worth almost $2.5 million helping to strengthen Australia's agricultural traceability systems.
The investments announced today are:
- $1.95 million to establish a successor to the Australian Agricultural Traceability Governance Group (AATGG), and
- $534,791 for Standards Australia to lead the national rollout of the Australian Agricultural Traceability Protocol (AATP).
Agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports were forecast to reach a record value of around $86 billion in 2025-26, a result which is backed by strong traceability systems.
Strong traceability systems reinforce trust in Australian agriculture globally - helping our farmers export to the world.
The $1.95 million grant has been awarded to the National Farmers' Federation, which will establish a new national governance group to progress traceability leadership and coordination previously undertaken by the AATGG.
The group will bring together governments, industry and supply chain participants to improve Australia's agricultural traceability systems.
The $534,791 grant will enable Standards Australia to rollout the AATP across the country, a nationally consistent digital standard that supports reliable data sharing across agricultural supply chains.
Developed through the Data Enabled Traceability Proof of Concepts (AgTrace) project and successfully piloted by AgTrace Australia across multiple agricultural industries, the protocol will operate as a public good with no licensing constraints, allowing broad participation and adoption across Australian agriculture.
Standards Australia will lead governance, administration and sector-wide activation of the protocol, helping ensure it remains accessible, industry-led and fit for purpose.
These investments will:
- help reduce compliance burdens for farmers through streamlined data practices,
- improve interoperability across supply chains,
- strengthen confidence in product provenance and sustainability claims, and
- enhance Australia's ability to respond quickly to biosecurity incidents.
The Albanese Labor Government has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for our farmers and producers to export our world-class products on the international stage and these new grants build on this work.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:
"Australia is a global leader in agricultural traceability and the Albanese Labor Government is committed to building on this success.
"Better traceability means better opportunities for Australian farmers.
"Agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports were forecast to reach a record value of around $86 billion in the last financial year, and our Government will continue to invest in strong traceability systems that are essential to maintaining access to premium international markets.
"Consumers, trading partners and regulators around the world are placing greater emphasis on traceability, and these initiatives will help ensure Australian agriculture remains at the forefront of meeting those expectations."
