Defra says the work at the Weybridge site is a response to increasing animal and plant disease threats, which come with knock-on impacts to public health, food and farming businesses and the wider economy.
The government also said the laboratories it inherited were in a 鈥減oor condition with their long-term future in doubt 鈥� posing a significant risk to Britain鈥檚 farmers and human health鈥�.
Commitment of further investment needed
皇家华人has welcomed the funding.
However, it noted that a National Audit Office report in 2022 found that 鈥榯he UK鈥檚 primary science capability for managing threats from animal diseases鈥� had been subject to a 鈥榣ong period of inadequate management and under investment鈥�.
It said Defra had estimated that 拢2.8 billion was needed over 15 years, under its Weybridge Development Programme.
鈥淭he Treasury, under the previous government, accepted the NAO鈥檚 report but didn鈥檛 commit to the 拢2.8bn sum suggested,鈥� said NFU chief animal health and welfare adviser Catherine McLaughlin.
鈥淭he 拢200m announced falls well short of that so a commitment of further investment is needed.鈥�
She called for clarity on what improvements would be selected.
鈥�The 拢200m announced falls well short of that so a commitment of further investment is needed.鈥�
NFU chief animal health and welfare adviser Catherine McLaughlin
Support for crucial upgrades
APHA Chief Executive Jenny Stewart said: 鈥淎PHA is at the forefront of tackling animal and plant disease outbreaks, with our experts working around the clock.
鈥淭his funding is hugely welcome to support crucial upgrades that will allow us to continue delivering the disease surveillance, detection and research work which protects against new and existing threats.
鈥淎PHA鈥檚 vital work includes leading the current operational response to the impacts of avian influenza and bluetongue virus which have been affecting farmers across the country. This includes testing thousands of samples, which requires significant laboratory capacity. 鈥�
鈥淩isks to our biosecurity will continue and this investment will help ensure we are better prepared for the future.鈥�
