A new five-year program will strengthen the Australian grain industry’s readiness to manage pest and disease threats, protecting market access and Australia’s reputation for clean, high-quality grain.

The program includes a range of activities that cover key aspects of biosecurity and will lead to a large simulation exercise to test how well prepared the industry is and identify areas for improvement.

The Australian Government, state and territory governments, biosecurity officers, peak industry bodies, researchers, diagnosticians, agronomists and growers will all be involved. The program includes a dedicated grains biosecurity coordinator, setting up a grains biosecurity advisory committee, updating the Grain Industry Biosecurity Plan and developing an Australian Grains Biosecurity Guide.

Activities starting this year include a knowledge survey, biosecurity training for industry members and webinars for growers. These efforts will help ensure a strong, coordinated approach to managing risks and responding quickly to new threats.

For more information, contact training@phau.com.au.