Latest news with #MichaelCrowley
Agriland
05-08-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Australia Develops World First Biodegradable Vaccine for Fmd
By Chris McCullough The world's first biodegradable vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been developed in Australia, a country that remains free from the dreaded livestock killer for over 150 years. FMD is a highly infectious viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. It remains widespread globally and is endemic in many countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and Middle East. More recently, FMD has appeared on a number of farms in Europe, with the disease detected in cattle in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. Even though Australia remains FMD free, it recognises how much damage the disease could do, if it were to appear there. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has estimated an FMD incursion could cost the Australian economy up to $80 billion, which would have a catastrophic impact on trade, animal welfare and farm productivity. This breakthrough in vaccine development was made possible through a $20 million, five-year research partnership between Meat & Livestock Australia, Tiba Biotech, and the New South Wales Government. The vaccine has taken less than 18 months to develop and has cost about $2.5 million. MLA managing director, Michael Crowley, said while it was hoped that an FMD vaccine would never be needed, the research represented a proactive approach to managing biosecurity risk. Crowley said: 'FMD is present in countries near to Australia and is front of mind for industry in terms of potential biosecurity risks. 'Vaccination may not necessarily be required in the event of a disease incursion, but this research demonstrates that the Australian industry is proactive and prepared.' Australia has developed the world's first biodegrable vaccine for FMD, which is endemic in many countries, particularly Africa, Asia and Middle East. Researchers found that the new vaccine demonstrated strong, effective immune response and safety in preliminary trials in Germany. Vaccinated cattle did not contract FMD when exposed to the disease and, importantly, they did not shed the virus. The new biodegradable vaccine uses mRNA to induce an immune response, rather than an actual virus. mRNA vaccines have been proven safe for animals and for consumers according to the researchers. Following these trials, the vaccine must now undergo a rigorous evaluation process with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) before approval for use on livestock. New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, said: 'The delivery of an FMD vaccine is part of the Minns Government's commitment to safeguarding livestock from key biosecurity threats and ensuring the state's agriculture industry can thrive. 'Developing local capacity to produce vaccines against emergency animal diseases is a critical priority for the NSW government, Australia's livestock industries and our economy.' mRNA vaccines allow the animal to create proteins and antibodies to trigger an immune response. They do this without entering the nucleus of cells and disappear from the animal within days, leaving antibodies behind for protection against the virus. Australian-based Tiba co-founder, Peter McGrath, added: 'Australia is now at the forefront of livestock vaccine development, bringing with it the potential to develop manufacturing capacity, jobs, and exports. 'Unlike current mRNA technologies, our vaccines can be stored long-term at standard refrigeration temperatures and even at room temperature for at least one month, which is a critical advantage in livestock applications.' The project is also conducting similar research to develop a vaccine for lumpy skin disease, which is also a significant exotic disease threat to Australia. The project has also included input from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the German Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut and Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Sky News AU
04-08-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Woolworths, McDonald's and Coles say they will not stock US beef despite relaxed biosecurity measures
Several major Australian companies have confirmed they are planning to stick with domestic beef suppliers despite the Albanese government's move to loosen import controls on meat products from the United States. In June, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Australia would be removing biosecurity restrictions on beef produced in the US, Canada and Mexico. The move sparked concern from farmers, who warned it could introduce mad cow disease into Australia and threaten the livelihood of domestic producers. However, McDonald's Australia and the nation's major supermarkets told they would continue to use Australian suppliers despite the government's move. In a statement, a Woolworths spokesperson said they had longstanding relationships with many domestic suppliers and had 'no plans' to source beef elsewhere. 'We apply an Australia-first approach and 100 per cent of our fresh red meat is sourced directly from Australian farmers,' they said. 'We have no plans to change that approach.' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Coles said: 'At Coles, we continue to partner with top beef producers across Australia to bring our customers the high-quality, 100 per cent Australian-sourced Coles brand fresh beef that they enjoy today'. McDonald's Australia also said they would continue to purchase from Australian farmers. 'We'll continue to source 100 per cent Aussie beef for our menu and provide our customers with the great taste, quality, and value they know and love,' a spokesperson told Meat and Livestock Australia managing director Michael Crowley welcomed the decisions from Coles, Woolworth and McDonald's, as he sought to calm fears about the impact of the government's changes. 'The potential for US beef to be imported into Australia in large volumes is minimal,' he told Mr Crowley cited the high demand for Australian beef in the US, the low US cattle herd and the strength of the Australian dollar. "More than 99 per cent of beef available in Australian supermarkets, pubs and restaurants is Australian beef,' he said. "Australia produces approximately three times more beef than needed to feed our population. Around 70 per cent of our production is exported to global markets. "The impact of US and Canadian beef entering Australia is expected to be minimal. It is unlikely there will be an adverse effect on Australian cattle producers." The decision to loosen biosecurity rules comes as Australia attempts to navigate unpredictable trade policy from the Trump administration, including the threat of tariffs on a range of exports. Trade Minister Don Farrell has refused to be drawn on whether opening the Australian market to US beef was part of an effort to avoid any potential trade restrictions.
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump's New Ultimatum for Putin, and an Epstein Backlash
Hosted by Tracy Mumford Produced by Will Jarvis and Ian Stewart Edited by Ian StewartJessica Metzger and Tracy Mumford Featuring Michael Crowley Behind Trump's Tough Russia Talk, Doubts and Missing Details, by Michael Crowley, Eric Schmitt and Julian E. Barnes Supreme Court Clears the Way for Trump's Cuts to the Education Department, by Abbie VanSickle 24 States Sue Trump Over $6.8 Billion Withheld From Education, by Sarah Mervosh Will the Conspiracists Cultivated by Trump Turn on Him Over Epstein?, by Shawn McCreesh Homeless Population Declines in Los Angeles for a Second Straight Year, by Shawn Hubler Mark Snow, Who Conjured the 'X-Files' Theme, Is Dead at 78, by Alex Williams Tune in, and tell us what you think at theheadlines@ For corrections, email nytnews@ For more audio journalism and storytelling, download the New York Times Audio app — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter. Special thanks to Robert Jimison.
Reuters
01-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Australia's red meat industry drops 2030 carbon neutral goal
CANBERRA, July 1 (Reuters) - An Australian livestock industry body said on Tuesday it had abandoned its goal to make the sector, a significant emitter of planet-warming methane, carbon neutral by 2030 but that reducing emissions would remain a priority. The carbon neutral pledge, first announced in 2017, was absent from Meat & Livestock Australia's long-term strategy document released on Tuesday. Its managing director, Michael Crowley, said the target had proven unachievable. "We need more time, more support, and more investment to reach our goal," he said. Australia's Red Meat Advisory Council dropped the 2030 climate neutral goal from its strategy last week. The decisions echo those of some governments and companies that have scaled back climate commitments in recent years. The livestock industry's original 2030 target aimed to reduce emissions and offset those that remained by carbon sequestration in soil or plant matter. To this end, the industry has pursued innovations including the breeding of animals that emit less methane, using feed supplements such as seaweed that inhibit methane production in the gut, and improving soil carbon capture techniques. While emissions from Australia's red meat industry did drop 78% by 2021 from 2005 levels, according to the country's science agency CSIRO, this was due to less land clearing and a smaller national herd - not a decrease in methane produced per animal. Crowley said the research over the last few years would mature into implementation and the industry could still reach 80-90% of its carbon neutrality goal by 2030. "We need to drive adoption," he said. He added that the 2030 target had spurred over A$100 million ($66 million) in sustainability investments and MLA, a livestock research and marketing body, would continue to drive efficiency gains and reduce net emissions per kg of meat production. Australia is one of the world's biggest exporters of red meat and home to 30 million cattle and more than 70 million sheep, according to MLA. During digestion, these animals produce methane, which breaks down over time but is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a timespan of 20 years. ($1 = 1.5207 Australian dollars)
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘You cannot bomb your way out of this': Rep. Jason Crow on Trump Administration's intel missteps
Rep. Jason Crow, Democratic Congressman from Colorado, Michael Crowley, New York Times Diplomatic Correspondent, Ned Price, Former Spokesperson for the State Department Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss the cancelled briefings that were scheduled for both chambers of congress, and why national security experts are sounding the alarm over the lack of transparency in even classified settings by this administration.
