Construction has begun on $31 million infrastructure upgrades at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) as part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to protecting the state’s agriculture sector, supporting research and innovation and strengthening our biosecurity capabilities.
The world-class facility in Menangle plays a critical role with a team of renowned scientists working to find new ways to reduce threats to agriculture, the environment, and our community.
The Minns Government is helping build-up and protect the state’s primary industries with $100 million invested over the last year in agricultural research and more than $1 billion in biosecurity systems and programs.
The latest upgrades at EMAI include:
- a $15 million high-containment insectary that will strengthen NSW’s capacity to protect agriculture and the environment from damaging insect and mite pests.
The facility will enable rapid, secure research to respond to exotic incursions, and improve biosecurity preparedness for industries such as grains, horticulture, livestock, forestry and cotton, as well as the environment, by increasing the likelihood of a successful response.
This facility was funded by the NSW Government with a $2 million contribution from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
- $6.5 million to renovate the existing greenhouse complex to support plant biosecurity research and diagnostics. This includes the host diversity of new and emerging pathogens, developing new surveillance methods, and improved control options.
Plant industries depend on pathogen-tested propagation stock, so upgraded greenhouse facilities will strengthen early detection of exotic and emerging pathogens.
- $4.8 million to extend the animal house facility to support priority biosecurity research.
- $4.7 million to other critical laboratory and infrastructure upgrades across the EMAI campus.
The greenhouse research complex, animal house research facility extension and critical laboratory and infrastructure upgrades are funded under the Minns Government’s $60 million Critical Infrastructure Uplift Program.
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:
“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.
“The work undertaken by the dedicated scientists has aided biosecurity response capacity for red imported fire ant, Xylella, khapra beetle, Japanese encephalitis virus and white spot syndrome virus, protecting the State’s multibillion dollar primary industries sector.
“The Minns Government recognises how crucial biosecurity research is with this $31 million investment in labs, greenhouses, and research facilities at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.
“NSW Government scientists continue to deliver world-first breakthroughs which have long-lasting benefits to agriculture, the environment and our community. This funding recognises the critical role our scientists continue to play in preventing biosecurity incursions and improving our preparedness.
“Collaboration is a key component for EMAI scientists who have been able to deliver world-firsts, such as developing a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease this year. Investing in these facilities gives our researchers the opportunity to continue their studies and work with international counterparts to protect our industries.”
“Our scientists and researchers are delivering world-first and Australia-first discoveries that are helping protect our industries, strengthen our biosecurity, improve productivity and support farmers right across the state.
“From cutting-edge science to practical innovations that directly benefit regional communities, EMAI is where some of the brightest minds are pushing the boundaries of research and development right here in NSW.
“This work often happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is absolutely critical to the future of our primary industries and reinforces NSW as a national leader in agricultural innovation.”
Case studies:
FMD Vaccine World First
- Researchers at EMAI played a critical role in developing the world-first vaccine.
- This is a once-in-a-generation development that puts Australia at the forefront of the development of these types of vaccines.
- Protecting our livestock from devastating animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD), is a vitally important initiative for Australia.
- An outbreak of FMD could cost the Australian economy up to $80 billion through trade disruption and response to the disease.
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) response
- The Virology Laboratory at EMAI was the first lab in Australia to identify the presence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in foetal pig samples.
- The lab’s virologists and veterinary pathologists were unable to resolve what was causing illnesses in pigs, so the team ran a broader virus diagnostic to detect the group of viruses that includes JEV.
- The detection of JEV in Central NSW and south to the Murray River was an unexpected and significant finding.
- After the diagnosis, health authorities were able to confirm JEV in human cases of encephalitis which up until then had an undiagnosed cause.
Varroa and suspect Polyphagous shothole borer (PSHB) samples
- Collaboration between the molecular entomology and biotechnology teams at EMAI, using Advanced Gene Technology Centre (AGTC) facilities, led to successful barcode sequencing to confirm or deny the presence of serious exotic pests in less than 24 hours.
- In the case of varroa in 2022, the team confirmed varroa the morning after samples were received at EMAI.
- For two suspect Polyphagous shothole borer samples, the team followed up on suspect protein fingerprint profiles that indicated the material could be PSHB, with barcode sequencing undertaken overnight to confirm NSW was still free of PSHB.