At the end of July, Plant Health Australia (PHA), in partnership with Wine Australia, hosted a workshop at the 19th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference (AWITC) in Adelaide, South Australia.  

Dr Yasmin Chalmers, acting National Manager, Partnerships,  represented PHA in Workshop 2: Protecting Australia’s Vineyards – Cutting-Edge Biosecurity, Pest and Disease Management Strategies, a session designed to build industry knowledge and strengthen preparedness.

The workshop brought together growers, viticulturalists, researchers, students and state government representatives. Presentations covered major biosecurity threats such as crown gall, grapevine viruses, trunk diseases, scale and phylloxera, while PHA led interactive activities to improve understanding of response planning and stakeholder roles. 

Through discussions and group exercises, participants explored the importance of integrating biosecurity into vineyard management, accurate pest reporting, and effective communication during responses. The interactive format was well received, helping attendees grasp the complexity of pest incursions and the value of collaboration.  

“Collaboration with PHA is vital to strengthen wine sector biosecurity preparedness. The AWITC workshop was a great success, giving growers practical insights and reinforcing the value of working together to protect the long-term sustainability of our vineyards,” said Robyn Dixon, Wine Australia Program Manager.

 Key outcomes included reinforcing the need for reliable vineyard biosecurity information, improving awareness of stakeholder responsibilities, and strengthening knowledge of Xylella fastidiosa, including its symptoms, pathways of spread and vector management. 

 The “Biosecurity in Action Workshop” was funded by Wine Australia in collaboration with PHA. Wine Australia is an Associate Member of PHA.