The 2025 NSW State Budget will include over $140 million in new funding aimed at strengthening the state’s biosecurity systems and modernising primary industries research and development, with a focus on supporting the long-term sustainability of the state’s agricultural sector.
A major component of the budget is a $100 million investment to enhance biosecurity detection, protection, and emergency response capacity across New South Wales. This brings the state’s total biosecurity investment to $1.05 billion, reflecting a growing recognition of the threats posed by pests, diseases, and invasive weeds to agricultural production.
In addition, $41.2 million will be directed toward upgrading digital infrastructure and boosting research capabilities in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence-assisted farming. The funding also includes support for a graduate program to build a skilled pipeline of agricultural researchers in NSW.
These initiatives build on more than $60 million allocated last year for upgrades to seven research facilities and five emergency response sites across regional NSW. The investment aims to support ongoing research in key areas such as animal nutrition, climate resilience, aquaculture breeding, and biosecurity.
With agriculture contributing approximately $20 billion annually to the state’s economy, these upgrades are intended to provide farmers and producers with access to cutting-edge research and robust systems for managing current and future biosecurity risks. The enhancements will also help position NSW to adapt to evolving global challenges, including the impacts of climate change.
