Citrus Australia represents the biosecurity interests of citrus producers and the industry. They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:
- biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
- liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
- funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
- participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.
Industry overview
In 2017–18 production of oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes and grapefruit was valued at $786 million (LVP), with exports valued at $428 million.
The citrus industry is Australia’s largest fresh fruit exporting industry by volume, with major export markets in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United States and Thailand.
The five-year production average is 715,000 tonnes per annum, produced from approximately 26,000 hectares of citrus plantings nationally.
Citrus fruits are grown commercially throughout the Australian mainland excluding the ACT. Major growing areas include the Riverina in NSW; Central Burnett, Central Highlands and the far north of Queensland; Riverland in SA; the Murray Valley in Victoria–NSW and the Midlands and south-west of WA. There are a small number of commercial orchards in Darwin and the Katherine region of the NT.
A biosecurity project, Improving Biosecurity Preparedness of the Australian Citrus Industry (CT 17001), commenced in August 2018, funded by Hort Innovation supported by the citrus levy until June 2021. In the first two years, additional funding has been received from the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
In 2019, Citrus Australia formed a Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee as a result of growing concern from industry following the 2018 citrus canker outbreak in the NT and north-west WA. The objective is to prepare industry for future exotic plant pest responses.
The citrus industry is supported by a biosecurity plan, the Biosecurity Manual for Citrus Producers Version and the National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy 2018–28
Value of production and distribution
Annual value of citrus production, 2007–18
Distribution of citrus production by state and territory, 2017–18 (based on LVP)
Citrus surveillance
National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy
The National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy has been developed to provide a framework for national coordination and implementation of surveillance activities carried out by government and industry for exotic citrus pests and pests of market access concern.
The strategy's four Goals and twelve Actions form the basis of an implementation plan. The Actions aim to strengthen national surveillance efforts to detect incursions of exotic citrus pests and improve the understanding of pest status to support access to markets.
National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy Implementation Plan
The principles of the National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy are to maximise efficiencies of surveillance efforts by integrating and connecting surveillance amongst stakeholders. This integration will include development and use of diagnostic tools and triage networks, and surveillance which combines crop monitoring for established pests of production concern with surveillance for high priority exotic pests.
There are four program areas:
- Improved partnerships through coordination and collaboration
- Enhanced capability and capacity to undertake citrus biosecurity surveillance
- Smart surveillance through risk assessment, tools and diagnostics to support detection of citrus pests
- Improved capture and analysis of citrus pest surveillance data.
Biosecurity plans, manuals and resources
Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Citrus Industry
Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the citrus industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Biosecurity planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.
The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Citrus Industry outlines key threats to the industry, risk mitigation plans, identification and categorisation of exotic pests and contingency plans. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email [email protected]
Biosecurity Manual for Citrus Producers
The Biosecurity Manual for Citrus Producers contains information to help producers to implement biosecurity on-farm. Manuals usually contain an overview of biosecurity, fact sheets to identify the high priority pests of a crop, tips on crop management, and how to manage people, vehicles and equipment to minimise biosecurity risks. Manuals also contain a biosecurity self-assessment list, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors.
More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.
Postcard
Promotional item to support the exotic plant pest hotline 1800 084 881
