The country’s most advanced animal genomics facility is being built in Ipswich, with support through the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.

Neogen Australasia are transforming a former University of Queensland site at Bundamba into a state-of-the-art $11 million genomics centre that will help local primary producers grow and breed the best produce and livestock for market.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said Neogen would consolidate its Australian operations in Queensland, creating 25 new high-skilled local jobs over the next five years.

“Neogen has become a genuine Queensland success story and a great example of a world-leading company investing in their future here in the Sunshine State,” Mr Dick said.

“In 2017 our government worked with the University of Queensland to attract US food safety giant Neogen Corporation to our state to set up a new Australian office at UQ’s Gatton campus.

“Neogen went on to established the largest livestock DNA testing lab in the country, backed by our Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, and they currently employ 48 staff locally.

“Our government is now investing in this new facility, again through AQIAF, which will create 25 new jobs by 2027, and potentially more than 40 jobs over the next decade.

“Neogen have become the most trusted name in Australia for animal genomics, conducting more than 35,000 tests a month so our producers can get the most out of their livestock.

“This new facility will allow Neogen to perform up to one million tests annually, more than double Neogen’s current capacity, generating more Queensland employment, which is core to our economic recovery and growth as a state.”

In addition to their genomics work, Neogen also provide food diagnostic and biosecurity services for the agribusiness sector, testing for bacteria, allergens, toxins, diseases and more.

Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said Ipswich offered everything companies like Neogen needed.

“We have a skilled local workforce and strong industry supply chains in place, not to mention easy access to extensive local markets,” Mr McCallum said.

“It’s easy to understand why Neogen and other successful businesses like it are choosing Ipswich, which means more jobs in more industries as we continue our safe and strong recovery.”

Neogen Australasia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Neogen Corporation, a publicly listed food and animal safety company based in the United States that employs more than 1800 staff globally.

Neogen Australasia Senior Director Bobby Creasman said the company was looking forward to integrating its Gatton lab operations with its food safety team, which had been operating out of Victoria, and expanding its export presence.

“New technologies such as skim-sequencing and expanded food diagnostic testing will now be able to be offered across Australasia thanks to this new facility and the support of the Queensland Government,” Mr Creasman said.

“Our future Bundamba facility will be at the forefront of ensuring greater accessibility of genomic tools at improved value to the cattle and sheep producer, while providing more information across the livestock production value chain.”

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the announcement was fantastic news for Queensland’s valuable food production and processing sector.

“This facility will be a real asset for Queensland ag, particularly our prized beef industry,” Mr Furner said.

“Our state offers some of the best produce and livestock in the world, and if we can take that quality even higher then it’s only going to deliver positives for the sector and our state.”