Plant Health Australia (PHA) is developing a new Biosecurity Plan (BP) for the potato industry in collaboration with AUSVEG, the Potato Processing Association of Australia (PPAA), industry and government partners through the Hort Innovation-funded project Biosecurity preparedness and strategy for the potato industry.

The BP will identify and prioritise exotic plant pests and diseases that pose a risk to the Australian potato industry and help guide preparedness and response activities.

It will also include an Action Plan outlining priority activities and opportunities for collaboration across industry and government.

As part of the project, a Potato Biosecurity Reference Panel (BRP) has been established, bringing together 23 industry and biosecurity experts across Australia.

The panel recently met to review a draft of the High Priority Pest (HPP) list and contribute to the development of the industry’s Action Plan. Discussions focused on identifying practical measures that can help strengthen preparedness and support the industry’s ability to respond to future pest incursions.

The meeting also featured a presentation from James Camac from the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA), who demonstrated how the Biosecurity Commons risk analysis platform can support biosecurity decision-making, including through national risk mapping, spread modelling and risk-based surveillance design.

Feedback from the panel will help inform the final BP and Action Plan, ensuring they reflect current industry priorities and provide practical guidance for strengthening biosecurity across the Australian potato industry.

PHA would like to thank the participants for their contributions and ongoing support of the project.