Funding for Foot and Mouth disease vaccine

The State Government has announced funding to help develop foot and mouth disease vaccines in NSW at the inaugural NSW Biosecurity Conference.

Held this week at the famous Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, the conference focussed on three key themes to Prepare, Protect & Secure our primary industries, economy and natural environment.

With Foot and Mouth disease, Lumpy Skin Disease and Varroa mite as present biosecurity threats, NSW Farmers had a strong contingent of representatives at the conference.   

It was also an ideal platform for the NSW Government to commit $6 million to fast-track the development of a vaccine for both diseases against Foot and Mouth (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the goal was to develop mRNA synthetic vaccines for both FMD and Lumpy Skin by August 2023.

NSW Farmers Biosecurity Chair Ian McColl has welcomed the state government’s continued investment in biosecurity measures, with an additional boost to funding announced this week.
 
“This investment into research and development is a potential game-changer for agriculture, because there is no mRNA vaccine for foot and mouth disease or lumpy skin disease,” Mr McColl said.