PHA’s new Strategic Plan 2022 –27 sets the company’s direction for the next five years and considers the challenges and opportunities that may present in the near future.

A strong and resilient plant biosecurity system is built on connected strategies and partnerships, effective and efficient response and recovery, and leveraged data and technology for improved decision-making and rapid response to biosecurity threats.

The three pillars of PHA’s strategy: responding effectively, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing integration, are set to deliver on our vision to be a valued leader of a strong, integrated plant biosecurity system.

Challenges and opportunities such as changing trading patterns/supply chains; shifts in geopolitics; merging of pest and disease regions; and climate and land-use changes have all lead to ever-more expansive established pests ranges.

It has been estimated that a serious incursion of a major plant pest could potentially cost our horticultural and broadacre industries upward of $29 billion.

“These drivers and the cumulative effects of multiple incursions all impact the future of plant biosecurity and have been considered in formulating the new strategy,” said Sarah Corcoran, CEO of Plant Health Australia.

PHA will focus on being a valued leader of a strong and integrated biosecurity system while our mission remains to strengthen the Australian plant biosecurity system to benefit the economy, environment, and community.

“Our role as the trusted coordinator of the plant biosecurity system bringing expertise, knowledge and stakeholders together to generate solutions is already well established however making sure the system is future-orientated and solutions-focused will add a level of complexity,” she said.

Connected strategies and partnerships, effective and efficient response and recovery and leveraging data and technology to improve decision-making, are all elements of a strong and resilient plant biosecurity system.

To advance Australia’s ability to respond and recover from plant pest incursions, PHA will continue its commitment to the Emergency Plant Pest Deed (EPPRD) and work with stakeholders to consider other national arrangements The focus will be on designing fit-for-purpose national response arrangements and establish mature levels of biosecurity response capability. The company will also support cohesive networks of stakeholders that are ready to respond to biosecurity threats.

By developing cohesive member, supply chain and science and technology networks, PHA will be able to establish new relationships with non-traditional and international partners. This will lead to increased positive sentiment towards the value of existing partnerships and increase the number of industry and partner programs. PHA will also work to increase an understanding of industry adoption of biosecurity practices and focus on the benefits of partnered communication, extension and training valued by industry.

Improving Australia’s ability to identify and detect biosecurity threats, remains one of PHA’s key priorities, which will increase awareness of the use of innovative technologies and approaches. The company will focus on enhancing national identification and detection capability, increasing knowledge brokering and engagement initiatives with the community.

Download a copy of PHA’s Strategic Plan 2022-27.