The NSW Government announced it is investing in and prioritising the biosecurity of NSW, with a cutting-edge emergency animal disease vaccine reaching a major milestone.
Spearheaded by a pilot project, the mRNA vaccine targeting the border disease virus (BDV) has been produced in Sydney, marking a crucial advancement in biosecurity preparedness, the government said in a news release.
This achievement is part of the NSW Government’s comprehensive strategy to enhance biosecurity measures across the state, which includes initiatives such as recruiting the state’s first independent Biosecurity Commissioner, allocating $95 million to combat the spread of red imported fire ants, and investing $41 million to support the transition to mandatory sheep and goat electronic identification for improved traceability.
Additionally, a $10 million Good Neighbour Program aims to address pests and weeds on public land, while ongoing research and development projects are conducted across the Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) statewide network of research stations.
The BDV vaccine, manufactured in collaboration with the UNSW RNA Institute, Tiba Biotech, and other key stakeholders, sets a precedent for future vaccine development endeavors, including vaccines for lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), both of which pose significant biosecurity threats to Australia’s livestock industry.
Economic projections underscore the importance of proactive biosecurity measures, with the economic costs of a large multi-state FMD outbreak estimated at over $80 billion Australia-wide.
With biosecurity risks posing a grave threat to NSW’s primary industries sector, the NSW Government remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the state’s future through proactive vaccine preparedness and robust biosecurity measures.
Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW Tara Moriarty emphasised the critical importance of local vaccine production capacity in safeguarding Australian agricultural industries and the economy, highlighting ongoing efforts to establish a vaccine pipeline for priority animal diseases.
“Now we have success with a virus which exists in Australia, we are working to establish a vaccine pipeline for priority animal diseases, including lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease, to ensure Australia can manufacture vaccines during an emergency response,” the minister noted.
She concluded, “Alongside a range of other biosecurity measures such as the establishment of an Independent Biosecurity Commissioner, the NRC Review and a $10 million Good Neighbour Program to clamp down on pests and weeds, the Government continues to prioritise biosecurity and safeguard the future of NSW primary industries.”
