Aussie produce sector receives $9.4m biosecurity injection

A $9.4 million injection into pest and disease risk management measures for safe trade is set to boost Australia’s reputation for delivering high-quality produce.

Australian produce is known for having stringent biosecurity practices along all stages of the production and supply chains; however, states and territories have differing phytosanitary, or pest and disease management, requirements for inter-state trade.

Hort Innovation is delivering the investment in partnership with all Australian States and Territory Governments. Led by CSIRO, they will work closely with Australia’s domestic biosecurity regulators to strengthen science-backed approaches to managing phytosanitary risks, making it easier for growers to conduct safe cross-border trade.

Brett Fifiled, Hort Innovation CEO, said the program would also facilitate international market access by demonstrating the nation’s commitment to biosecurity.

“Domestic and international trade is essential to the horticulture industry,” he said. “By working with some of the country’s top scientists, the process for reaching market access agreements will be made easier. Improved risk science tools can support biosecurity measures that may be more cost-effective and less time-prohibitive for growers without compromising our already great reputation for delivering quality, safe produce.”

Over a four-year period, researchers will collaborate with state and federal governments to develop and refine a ‘toolkit’ that can be used to improve state-level decision-making about biosecurity risks and how they are best managed. The tools will also underpin analyses to support international market access negotiations.

This toolkit will provide a way for growers and exporters who are already effectively managing their production chains to demonstrate that their produce presents a low biosecurity risk. It will build on already existing practices in this, facilitate better use of data in management of plant biosecurity risks and include new and emerging technologies such as optical grading and automated pest surveillance.

Rieks van Klinken, CSIRO project lead, said Australia’s horticulture sector will benefit from strong scientific tools that underpin new and existing market access opportunities and support the biosecurity system. This work contributes to the CSIRO Trusted Agrifood Exports mission’s goal to improve market access for Australian growers.

“Our researchers are improving the tools available to industry to streamline phytosanitary risk management by demonstrating and quantifying the contribution of commercial supply chain and production practices to risk reduction,” van Klinken said.

“The tools will make it easier for biosecurity regulators to incorporate commercial practices into biosecurity system processes and ultimately will enable industry to deliver high-quality, low-pest-risk consignments into treatment facilities or directly into domestic and international markets.”

This program will enable industry to better understand the impacts of in-field pest management and packhouse practices to manage phytosanitary risks in apple exports, according to Phil Turnbull, Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) CEO.

“Together with the CSIRO, the Australian apple industry will invest in world-leading science that will create export pathways not currently available to Australian growers,” said Turnbull said.

Australian Fresh Produce Alliance CEO Claire McClelland said, “Improving pest management and developing risk-based approaches will support domestic and international trade, which is essential for the future growth of the sector. Harmonised interstate trade regulations will improve the commercial operating environment for all fresh produce growers and suppliers.”

Image caption: CSIRO researchers discuss trade-related biosecurity challenges with Daniel Nicoletti, Nicoletti Orchards, Queensland representative to the APAL board.