NPBDS – Executive Summary

The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Strategy (the strategy) provides a framework to strengthen Australia’s plant biosecurity diagnostic system. It is one of several strategies that supports the broader national biosecurity system through its alignment with the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) and the National Plant Biosecurity Strategy (NPBS).

The strategy’s vision is that by 2031 the plant biosecurity diagnostic system sustains and improves the quality and reliability of diagnostic outcomes to support Australia’s economy, environment and community. Achieving this shared vision requires collective effort nationally to ensure the people infrastructure, standards and tools used deliver the highest-quality plant pest diagnostic services.

The 2021-2031 strategy is based around six interconnected goals shown below. Each goal is supported by a series of actions that will guide and support national policy relating to the delivery of plant pest diagnostic services and inform investment in research, development and extension. The actions can also be used to guide state/territory, regional and local efforts or efforts by individual governments, plant industries and stakeholder groups.

Goal 1: Strengthen national and international diagnostic connections.
Goal 2: Develop the expertise to enable the delivery of world class plant pest diagnostics.
Goal 3: Promote the use of innovative tools, technologies and approaches for improved diagnostics.
Goal 4: Ensure appropriate, sustainable and coordinated resourcing to support the diagnostic system.
Goal 5: Coordinate systems, policies and infrastructure to deliver reliable diagnoses.
Goal 6: Enhance data analytics to inform biosecurity decision making.

The scope of the 2021-2031 strategy covers plant pests (i.e. any species, strain or biotype of invertebrates or pathogens injurious to plants, plant products and bees) that impact Australia’s plant industries, environment and community.

The 2021-2031 strategy is preceded by the 2012-2020 strategy. That strategy played a key role guiding activities to support improvements to the national plant biosecurity diagnostic system. Some of the key achievements of the 2012-2020 strategy include:

  • Implementation of the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (NPBDN).
  • Improved and enhanced output of National Diagnostic Protocols (NDPs).
  • Development of laboratory standards with accreditation and proficiency testing.

The 2021-2031 strategy seeks to build upon the achievements and momentum of the 2012-2020 strategy and provide continued benefits for the broader national biosecurity system through the following outcomes:

  • A world-class coordinated plant biosecurity diagnostic system built on expertise shared through national and global collaboration.
  • Australia has the highest calibre of plant pest diagnostic expertise to identify priority and emerging plant pests.
  • Australia has fit for purpose tools and strategies to identify priority and emerging plant pests.
  • The national plant biosecurity diagnostic system is sustainably resourced to identify priority and emerging plant pests.
  • Australian plant pest diagnostics are delivered to a world-class standard.
  • Enhanced biosecurity decision-making supported by coordinated and accurate diagnostic data.

The successful implementation of the 2021-2031 strategy will support the needs of diagnosticians and ensure that Australia’s plant biosecurity diagnostic system is robust and effective into the future. It will also result in an improved national plant biosecurity system that will manage threats to Australia’s plant industries, environment and community while supporting trade and market access.