Avocados Australia is leading a multi- faceted biosecurity project which aims to improve the biosecurity preparedness of the Australian avocado industry by implementing effective preparedness and prevention strategies and building response capability.

Key partners in the project are the Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD WA), Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF), the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) and Plant Health Australia (PHA).

During August, a workshop focusing on improving Avocado Industry On-Farm Biosecurity Practices was held at EcoSciences in Brisbane. The workshop saw the project team and guest speakers offering valuable insights to underpin discussions centred with and around growers on the adoption of on-farm biosecurity. Participants worked collaboratively to highlight on-farm biosecurity practices aimed at reducing the risk of incursions of high-priority biosecurity pests.

Additionally, discussions on grower appropriate resources and tools, extension ideas and adoption strategies were also undertaken. The key outcomes from this workshop will provide a roadmap for the project on what growers need from industry efforts (resources and extension) to support adoption of on-farm biosecurity practices.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies offer a rapid, reliable and cost-efficient diagnostic platform to identify pests and pathogens in a single test, increasing Australia’s diagnostic capacity, and delivering rapid, more accurate results. HTS generates massive datasets, and the increasing amount of data being generated on plant pests and pathogens has emphasised the need for a secure, centralised platform that allows the submission, sharing and analysis of standardised HTS data.

Phase 1 of the project was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) under its Biosecurity Innovation Program. Plant Health Australia (PHA) is now seeking collaborators to be involved in Phase 2 of the project which is to build the database and make it operational.

Phase 1 aimed to develop an agreed foundation for the design and scope of a central, secure and private online location to hold trusted genome sequences for National Priority Plant Pests, industry high priority pests and trade sensitive established pests to support emergency responses, area freedom and relevant research.

The project involved consulting widely with stakeholders to develop not only a proposed architecture for the database, but also to seek agreement on governance arrangements and data standards. PHA convened three workshops as part of this process. The attendees at the workshops included members of the Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD) as well as other officers from States and Territories, members of the National Biosecurity Committee’s HTS working group, SPHD’s HTS working group, CSIRO, Bioplatforms Australia, universities, peak bodies, research and development corporations, and the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative.

To create awareness, a presentation on the proposed HTS database was delivered at the Annual Diagnostics and Surveillance Workshop in May this year, and a presentation will also be delivered at the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference, in Adelaide in November 2023.

To discuss potential collaboration opportunities and for further information please contact PHA’s Cheryl Grgurinovic or Lucy Tran-Nguyen.

Citrus Australia hosted their annual citrus industry market familiarisation tour from 29 – 30 August in Mildura, Victoria. PHA’s Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen, General Manager, Partnerships and Innovation, Naomi Wynn, A/Manager Learning and Development, and other key agricultural partners from Hort Innovation and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) attended to learn more about the citrus industry and gain market insight.

The tour included visits to the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Dareton Primary Industries Institute, Auscitrus’ seed and budwood facility, Creation Farms & Nursery Mildura, Cottrell Farms, Nutrano and Seaway Intermodal (Merbein).

Lucy appreciated the opportunity to observe all aspects of the supply chain for the citrus industry.

“From certified pest-free planting material (seed and budwood), to research trials, to packing house, logistics and finally to the consumer, biosecurity is at the forefront for the citrus industry.”

“I particularly enjoyed eating fresh and juicy citrus fruits picked in the orchards and tasting new varieties. Can’t wait to purchase them,” she said.

Thanks to Citrus Australia for hosting this very insightful familiarisation tour.

Expressions of interest are invited from NPBDN members who would like to attend the Xylella workshop on Friday 24 November 2023 in Adelaide. As an initiative under Plant Health Australia’s (PHA) national plant biosecurity diagnostics and surveillance professional development activities funded through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), travel support will be provided to interested members. The workshop will take place after the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference (APPS).

Costs covered will include:

• workshop registration fee
• flights to and from the workshop
• one night’s accommodation.

Applications for travel support close on Monday 18 September 2023 at 11.55pm (AEST).

Xylella is listed as Australia’s number one exotic plant pest. To increase capability in detecting this destructive pest, information including images of diseases caused by Xylella, updated sampling protocols, and methods to detect and identify this pathogen from the new National Diagnostics Protocol for Xylella will be presented.

The workshop will be delivered by experts in the field, including Toni Chapman (NSW DPI), Monica Kehoe (DPIRD WA), Luciano Rigano (MPI – NZ), Pragya Kant (Agriculture Victoria) as well as guest speakers Rachel Mann (PHA) and Craig Elliott (P2R2 Consulting).

This workshop is aimed at anyone interested in Xylella, including biosecurity policy makers, emergency response teams, diagnosticians, and industry staff.

For more information visit the APPS website.

EVENT DETAILS

Event Date: Friday 24 November 2023

Venue: Student Teaching Wing laboratory, Charles Hawker Building, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, Adelaide, SA

Apply now.

Note: travel support is exclusive to NPBDN members. DAFF (Australian Government) staff are not eligible for NPBDN travel funds and are encouraged to submit an EOI and consult their internal manager regarding travel arrangements. If members are attending APPS and are eligible for travel funding, if there is a difference in travel costs, they agree to cover these costs. Workshop numbers are limited. Expressions of interest will be assessed by the Network Implementation Working Group (NIWG) and successful applicants will be notified.

The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (NPBDN) is excited to present a fresh digital experience for diagnostic professionals. This user-friendly platform offers seamless navigation on both desktop and mobile devices, making it more intuitive than ever.

The NPBDN serves as a vital communication hub for plant pest diagnostics, fostering collaboration among experts across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region to bolster diagnostic capabilities.

Dr. Lucy Tran-Nguyen, PHA’s General Manager for Partnerships and Innovation, emphasized the website’s fresh, new, streamlined design, ensuring a visually engaging experience for practitioners.

Members gain access to a wealth of resources, including fact sheets, videos, National Diagnostic Protocols (NDPs), reports, news, insights, training, events, and career opportunities.

Visit npbdn.net.au to explore these valuable resources.

The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Professional Development and Protocols Project is coordinated by Plant Health Australia and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. The project’s objectives aim to strengthen Australia’s surveillance capacity in identifying priority plant pests affecting industries, the environment, and the community.

The Plant Surveillance Network Australasia-Pacific (PSNAP) is excited to unveil a refreshed network website for surveillance professionals that provides a more seamless digital experience, both on desktop and mobile, making it more intuitive and easy-to-use.

PSNAP enables members to communicate about plant pest surveillance and acts as a coordination point for professionals and practitioners to strengthen surveillance capability across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.

“At the centre of the refresh is an easy-to-use website that is more streamlined, offering a visually engaging experience,” said Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen, PHA General Manager, Partnerships and Innovation.

Designed with practitioners in mind, the website offers members access to the latest surveillance resources, information and training including:

• Fact sheets and videos
• National Surveillance Protocols (NSPs) and plans
• Reports and strategies
• News and insights
• Training and events
• Careers

Visit the website

The National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Professional Development and Protocols Project is coordinated and delivered by Plant Health Australia and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The objectives of the Project are to enhance and strengthen Australia’s surveillance capacity and capability to identify priority plant pests that impact on plant industries, environment and the community.

Plant Health Australia (PHA) has recently introduced an online course Biosecurity Surveillance: Protecting Australia’s Forests developed with funding provided by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

The course is available on PHA’s Biosecurity Online Training (BOLT) platform and explores the role biosecurity plays in keeping Australia’s forests healthy, as well as the signs and symptoms for common forestry pests and diseases and how to report them. Aimed at those with an interest in and who regularly work with trees, the course is designed to:

• increase biosecurity awareness
• encourage reporting of suspect pest sightings
• break down communication barriers between the general public and forest health experts
• complement other forest projects including Forest Watch Australia and MyPestGuide^TM Trees.

The course recognises that everyone has a role to play in protecting the Australian forests from new pests or diseases. Additionally, surveillance activities act as an early-warning system and will help to minimise the impact and spread of pests and diseases on the forest industry.

Access to the course is free and should take only one hour to complete. It contains short, graded questions to confirm the learner’s knowledge and reinforce key points of information.

Enrol today or if you have any questions or feedback on the course, please contact the PHA Training team at training@phau.com.au.

Remember: Report any unusual forest pests or symptoms to the Emergency Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or by using the MyPestGuide^TM Trees application (available from the google play and apple app stores).

The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostics Network (NPBDN) helps Australian plant diagnosticians succeed together by working collaboratively to navigate biosecurity challenges.

The August issue of their bi-monthly newsletter has just been published, read it now via the link below.

Read the August 2023 issue.

Plant Health Australia (PHA) continues to develop new partnerships to support and build biosecurity capacity in Australia.

As part of a Commonwealth-funded project, Safeguarding Indigenous-led forestry in northern Australia, PHA has been working with forest health and Indigenous engagement specialists from the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (NT DITT), Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF), and University of the Sunshine Coast to provide forest biosecurity training to Gumatj Corporation and Traditional Owners in East Arnhem Land and to Plantation Management Partners and Tiwi Plantations Corporation employees based on the Tiwi Islands.

Earlier this year field visits were made to the Birany homelands community in east Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands. Forest health and Indigenous engagement specialists presented a mixture of theory as well as practical forest health and biosecurity training sessions with Traditional Owners and forestry employees to improve their awareness of pest and diseases that could impact their forests.

Overall, the training was well received by all involved with Traditional Owners also sharing their knowledge of country and ecology with forest health experts. Another series of field visits is planned for August 2023 to continue to build relationships and forest biosecurity knowledge.

The Australian citrus industry is a large and vibrant horticultural industry, with over 28,000 hectares of citrus planted by approximately 1,400 growers. The industry provides significant value to rural communities and the wider economy, and without adequate preparedness future biosecurity threats pose serious risks to the $942 million industry.

CitrusWatch, a five-year national biosecurity program funded by Hort Innovation, Plant Health Australia (PHA) biosecurity levy, and the Australian Government, recently published the first Early Detector Network Newsletter. Apart from ensuring that early detection sticky trapping is conducted in autumn and spring, the newsletter will also be a source of knowledge for volunteers.

The program aims to expand surveillance, conduct industry training, lead risk assessment and modelling and improve governance and collaboration.

Read the newsletter