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 2018–19 production of oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes and grapefruit was valued at $783 million (LVP), with exports valued at $457 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 750,000 tonnes per annum, produced from approximately 27,000 hectares of citrus plantings nationally.
Citrus fruits are grown commercially throughout the Australian mainland excluding the Australian Capital Territory. Major growing areas include the Riverina in New South Wales; Central Burnett, Central Highlands and the far north of Queensland; Riverland in South Australia; the Murray Valley in Victoria–New South Wales and the Midlands and south-west of Western Australia. There are a small number of commercial orchards in Darwin and the Katherine region of the Northern Territory.
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. Additional funding was 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 Northern Territory and north-west Western Australia. 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 and the National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy 2018–28.
Value of production and distribution
Annual value of citrus production, 2007–19
Distribution of citrus production by state and territory, 2018–19 (based on LVP)
Citrus surveillance
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.
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.
Download the Implementation Plan
The Exotic Pest Identification and Surveillance Guide for Tropical Horticulture was developed with funding from the Australia Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Inspecting crops for signs of new pests is one way growers can protect Australia’s plant industries from exotic pests, as early detection and reporting improves the chances of successfully containing or eradicating new pests. The guide is in two sections:
• Biosecurity and surveillance
• Identification of key exotic pests.
Biosecurity plans, manuals and resources
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]
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
