Local agricultural producers are taking matters into their own hands of the looming threat of foot and mouth disease infiltrating Australia.

Organisers of a Sunshine Coast-wide culinary festival The Curated Plate announced yesterday that one event had been cancelled due to biosecurity risks.

The family-friendly event was due to be run by Maleny Cheese, Maleny Dairies and Maleny Food Co.

Program coordinator Zoe Sparks says they support the decision.

“I think they just wanted to take a proactive, precautionary biosecurity measure just to protect the health and wellbeing of the cows and the calves in our local area,” she told Neil Breen on Brisbane Live.

“They really wanted to make sure they were looking after the health and wellbeing of the animals, making sure there is no risk, we fully support that.”

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In a statement on their website, Maleny Dairies says they have also cancelled dairy tours due to the potential risks.

“The biosecurity and the health and wellbeing of our cows and calves at Maleny Dairies is of the upmost importance,” the statement read.

“It is for this reason we have decided to indefinitely cancel tours at the dairy.

“This also means that direct human contact with cows and calves is currently unavailable to the public.”