The investment is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to protecting NSW agriculture, with more than $100M invested in agricultural research over the past year and more than $1B directed towards biosecurity systems and programs.
The latest works include a $15M high-containment insectary designed to enhance the state’s ability to respond to damaging insect and mite pests.
A further $6.5M will upgrade greenhouse facilities used for plant biosecurity research and diagnostics, while $4.8M will expand the animal house research facility. Another $4.7M has been allocated to critical laboratory and infrastructure improvements across the campus.
Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said EMAI scientists had played a vital role in protecting the state’s multibillion-dollar primary industries sector from threats including red imported fire ants, Japanese encephalitis virus, white spot syndrome virus, Xylella and khapra beetle.
“The Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute is one of the world’s leading primary industries research centres and the Minns Government is committed to making it even better,” Ms Moriarty said.
She said the investment would allow scientists to continue delivering world-first breakthroughs and strengthen preparedness against future biosecurity incursions.
EMAI researchers recently helped develop a world-first vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease, a disease that could cost the Australian economy up to $80B in the event of an outbreak.
The institute also made Australia’s first detection of Japanese encephalitis virus in pig samples, enabling health authorities to identify human cases, and has used advanced genetic technologies to rapidly confirm or rule out dangerous pests such as varroa mite and Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer.
Ms Moriarty said the work undertaken at Menangle often occurred behind the scenes but was critical to protect farmers, communities and the future of NSW agriculture.