Vegetables

AUSVEG represents the biosecurity interests of vegetable and potato 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, vegetable and potato production was valued at $2.3 billion (LVP). Major crops include potatoes, carrots and lettuce. Potato production alone was valued at $558 million (LVP). Exports of vegetables, including potatoes, were valued at $255 million.

Australia’s diverse climate and soils accommodate vegetable cultivation in all states and territories, ensuring a constant supply of fresh vegetables. Australian vegetable growers provide the majority of fresh vegetables consumed in Australia and an increasing amount of fresh vegetables consumed overseas.

The Australian vegetable industry is committed to building its capacity to respond to potential biosecurity threats. A vegetable industry biosecurity advisor, two full-time farm biosecurity officers, and a potato pest surveillance project officer allow the industry to participate in a range of biosecurity initiatives.

During 2019, the farm biosecurity officers visited numerous growing regions across Australia including Greater Sydney in NSW; Darwin in the NT; Bowen, Ayr, Mareeba and Atherton in Queensland; Mornington Peninsula and Cranbourne in Victoria; Adelaide Plains and Riverland in SA; Devonport in Tasmania; and Perth and Albany in WA. They held a series of regional biosecurity awareness seminars and visited more than 80 individual farms.

The farm biosecurity officers were also involved in biosecurity initiatives including participation in technical meetings with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture as well as engagement with state government departments, relevant committees, other industry bodies and PHA. They also facilitated a Melbourne-based pilot program that focused on exotic plant pest awareness in urban environments. The program enabled the farm biosecurity officers to engage with community gardeners and others involved in urban farming, in order to raise awareness of exotic plant pests and reporting protocols .

In 2019 the development of a national potato biosecurity surveillance strategy for the Australian potato industry commenced. This involved significant engagement with potato growers, processors, seed suppliers and certifiers, industry bodies, the Australian Government and governments in WA, NSW, SA, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland.