A new DNA database will keep log on timber origins

Environment Institute member Professor partners with Western Australian-based company Interpredata听to build a DNA database for timber and help prevent illegal logging.

The partnership has recently been awarded a $60,000 Australian Government to build the database.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Senator Jonno Duniam said the database was an innovative step in providing certainty for businesses and combating fraud.

鈥淭here have been problems in the past with illegal logging and timber substitution, and while DNA traceability is effective, it can be very slow and labour-intensive,鈥 Minister Littleproud said.

鈥淚nterpredata, together with the 成人大片, will use this funding to develop a tracing system that will use DNA as an analytical tool.

鈥淭his can be used to build a world-class database that can help in the global fight against illegal logging.

鈥淲hile it will provide peace of mind to businesses that they are buying a sustainably harvested product, this DNA database will also help to detect fraud and misleading statements about timber products, such as species.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 really special about this project is that once the technology is developed, it can be applied across all agricultural products. It doesn鈥檛 just have to stop at one sector. Assistant Minister Duniam said the grant supports the government鈥檚 broader efforts against illegal logging, with Australia鈥檚 illegal logging laws making it a criminal offence to import or process illegally logged timber.

鈥淲e know that consumers in Australia and internationally want greater transparency and real time advice about the origin and sustainability of product in the modern digital marketplace,鈥 Assistant Minister Duniam said.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 through developing block-chain technology to assist with food safety, an app to track kangaroo meat harvesting, or a DNA database to combat illegal logging, these round two projects will give Aussie businesses the competitive edge.鈥

Greg Stocks, Managing Director, Interpredata said: 鈥淲e thank the Australian Government for this grant and look forward to working with the 成人大片 to deliver this project.鈥

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Tagged in Environment Institute, Media Release, Plant Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, Science communication
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