Agrifutures Invests in Chicken Meat Research Programs

AgriFutures Australia is investing in three new research projects aimed at strengthening the long-term sustainability, animal welfare, biosecurity and consumer confidence of the Australian chicken meat industry.

The first project, led by Integrity Ag, will scope a shared feed ingredient database to address data gaps in emissions linked to key inputs such as soy and amino acids, which make up a large share of production impacts.

It will develop case studies and tools to improve greenhouse gas reporting and help identify opportunities to reduce environmental impacts across supply chains.

The second project, delivered by AquilaScientific, will undertake national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in poultry, updating the 2021 survey and testing key bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella, Enterococcus and Campylobacter using whole-genome sequencing.

The third project, led by Ruadh Consulting, will develop a new science-based animal welfare standard for third-party accreditation, with clear auditable requirements and a practical framework for producers.

AgriFutures says the projects will deliver practical tools and data to support a resilient and trusted chicken meat sector.