FAO Director-General visits innovative dairy farms and disease preparedness centre in Australia

Melbourne, Australia - On the second day of an official visit to Australia, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today visited dairy farms showcasing the use of innovative technologies to improve productivity and sustainability in the sector.

The Ellinbank SmartFarm, about 115 km southeast of Melbourne, focuses on boosting productivity and environmental sustainability through improvements in measuring, managing and utilising the homegrown feedbase; improving the health and welfare and longevity and lifetime performance of cows and sustainably increasing annual milk production per cow.

The Farm provided an insightful look into the evolving landscape of dairy innovation. Additionally, the Director-General suggested that Ellinbank consider such products as camel and buffalo milk, which could contribute to the broader global market, where diverse dairy options are increasingly valued.

The FAO Director-General’s delegation also visited a family dairy farm, where they witnessed innovative work, including on dairy production on multispecies pasture systems.

A day earlier, the FAO Director-General visited the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, a high-containment facility designed to allow scientific research into the most dangerous infectious agents in the world.

ACDP’s responsibilities as a National Facility to industry and government stakeholders are centred on three areas: research; policy advice and training; diagnosis surveillance and response.

It is also a FAO Reference Centre for animal influenza and Newcastle Disease, laboratory biorisk management, and zoonotic coronavirus.

ACDP is a vital biosecurity facility in Australia, uniquely equipped with a PC4 lab dedicated to high-level infectious disease research and response. During his visit, the Director-General encouraged ACDP to develop forward-looking strategies that increase local engagement and foster closer, long-term collaboration with FAO. Moving beyond isolated projects, he suggested building comprehensive partnerships that would maximize impact.

The Director-General also visited the Kewleave Partnership, a low emissions sheep and cattle farm focused on sustainability and productivity.

During the visit, he noted the commitment of Australia’s farmers sustainable production practices, observing strategies that aim to balance environmental responsibility with economic goals. The Director-General acknowledged Australia’s work in low-emissions farming and its efforts to use data-driven approaches, which are helping to inform decisions on the ground.

The  FAO delegation met with a group of First Nation representatives. Inclusivity, including the role of Indigenous Peoples, is a key interest of FAO. Among the topics showcased in the meeting were First Nations engagement and opportunity in Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors, work to support First Nations agribusiness ownership and employment and encouraging the use of Indigenous knowledges.

The FAO delegation later attended a roundtable hosted by the Future Farmers Network, a non-for-profit organisation that focuses on youth in agriculture.

The Director-General expressed interest in the perspectives shared by young people in agriculture, recognizing the challenges they face as well as the opportunities available in the sector. Reflecting on their involvement across various agricultural industries, the Director-General appreciated the range of insights offered and noted the important role youth can play in shaping the future of agriculture.