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EDITION 10 | OCTOBER 2024
Message from the CEO
Welcome to the October edition of Tendrils, where once again I’m excited to share new developments and company news from the past month.
Read more about our recent Board meeting in Perth, Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit virus (ToBRFV) updates, congratulating two industry leaders on their appointments, the EPPRD's 19th birthday, and welcoming new PHA staff.
Board meeting
The Plant Health Australia (PHA) Board travelled to Perth, Western Australia, from 17 – 19 September to convene for Board Meeting 116 and attend plant biosecurity site visits. Read more
Board Meeting 117 will be held at PHA’s office in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, on Thursday, 28 November 2024.
Member meetings
PHA’s Member Meetings will be held in Canberra from 26–27 November, both in-person and online. The Notice of the meeting will be sent to all Members very soon. Please ensure your organisation’s contact details are up to date and register your attendance through the meeting requests and links provided.
Australia’s online biosecurity hub is growing
Biosecurity is crucial to protect Australia’s agriculture, food security, and environment. The National Biosecurity Training Hub launched in December 2023 continues to expand, now offering over 70 online and in-person courses for industry, government, and the public.
Exercise Aggregate enhances preparedness and collaboration in emergency response
PSNAP supports plant pest surveillance
A National Surveillance Protocol (NSP) workshop was held at the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) offices in Melbourne from 10-11 September, funded by the Plant Surveillance Network Australasia-Pacific (PSNAP).
New NDP 53 endorsed for Cyst Nematodes
The National Diagnostic Protocol 53 (NDP 53) for "Cyst nematodes (The genus Heterodera)" was endorsed in October 2024 by the Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD) for use in the event of an incursion. This NDP will play a crucial role in the detection of these pests, and serves as a vital tool to safeguard and maintain market access.
Five ways biosecurity research is helping Australia’s threatened species
Biosecurity is essential in protecting our threatened species of native plants and animals. The CSIRO introduces five ways that biosecurity research is helping protect Australia’s flora and fauna.
Be prepared for natural disasters this season
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) offers resources, support services and emergency alerts to help producers be prepared to tackle disaster season.
Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) initiative turns one
Learn more about FASTA’s initiatives and how the program helps underpin market access negotiations and increases Australia’s research capabilities in pest management.
Civil penalties awarded under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Two travellers have received civil penalties totalling $54,000 following multiple attempts to circumvent Australia’s biosecurity laws and conceal more than 240 live fish through Melbourne International Airport.
A risk analysis for fresh melons from Japan has been initiated
A review of biosecurity import requirements has been conducted for melons from Japan.
Get the latest info on the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus outbreak
Learn more about where the virus has been detected, restrictions in place, actions to take and resources to help manage risk.
Registrations open to attend Hort Business Summit 2024
The Hort Business Summit will address the challenges and complex operating environment of horticulture businesses. This year’s event will be held Friday, 15 November 2024 at Le Meridien Melbourne.
Polyphagous shothole borer (PSHB) lecture recording
Tune into the recording of the public lecture held by the Harry Butler Institute on Tuesday, 24 September at Murdoch University with visiting PSHB expert, Dr Shannon Lynch.
Nominations are open for the 2025 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award celebrating the leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities. Applications close Friday, 24 January 2025.
Plant Industry Forum advocates for stronger biosecurity
The Plant Industry Forum (PIF) has submitted key reports to the IGAB Review and National Biosecurity Strategy Action Plan, advocating for stronger biosecurity measures on behalf of a $43.2 billion sector.
Prepare for the new Methyl bromide fumigation methodology
On 5 August DAFF published the updated methyl bromide fumigation methodology (version 3.0), set to take effect on 1 May 2025. This update is important for treatment providers to understand and implement the new requirements.
CEBRA publishes a new book to tackle biosecurity risks
Biosecurity: A Systems Perspective is a new book produced by researchers from the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA). The publication is a result of cutting-edge, Australian Government funded research aimed at addressing biosecurity risks.
Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
AUSVEG has outlined seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) that is considered a hitchhiker pest, often arriving in good shipped from countries where the pest is found.
Rising temperatures wake up fruit fly
The arrival of spring temperatures will see an increase in activity of Queensland fruit fly. This article in Tree Crop Magazine introduces actions you can take to protect your crops this season.
2024 review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity
Public consultation on the 2024 review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) closed on Thursday 19 September 2024.
Latest from Grains Farm Biosecurity
Learnings from a Root-lesion nematode and fungal soilborne disease workshop
Queensland Grains Biosecurity Officer, Adam Jalaludin, shares his experience and learnings from a workshop he attended at the University of Southern Queensland, which focused on root-lesion nematodes and fungal soilborne diseases.
Latest from Farm Biosecurity
Six essentials for a farm biosecurity plan
On-farm biosecurity practices are one of the best defences against a pest or disease outbreak and a good farm biosecurity plan can help keep risks low by identifying everyday biosecurity practices that will help protect your farm.
Staff movements
Welcome to the team
Plant Health Australia’s (PHA) team continues to grow with five new team members joining us since September. The digital systems team welcomed Dr Yasmin Chalmers, Caitlin Tolsma, Lisa Devereaux and Linda Couch, while Conrad Roux has joined our People and Culture Team.
Yasmin has been appointed as Manager, Digital Systems, and brings over 20 years of leadership experience in research, education, and finance.
With a PhD in viticulture and oenology, Yasmin's career began in winegrape research for the Victorian Government. Since 2008, she has managed projects in education and finance, focusing on science, technology, and agribusiness. Yasmin is known for her innovative leadership and building collaborative partnerships.
Caitlin is the new Project Officer, Digital Systems for AUSPestCheck®, the Pest and Disease Image Library (PaDIL), and the Australian Plant Pest Database (APPD). She brings experience from her work in private land conservation, including system improvements at Trust for Nature Victoria. Caitlin's background spans quality improvement, process automation, and emergency pollution response, and she holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management and Development.
Lisa joins PHA as Project Officer, Digital Systems (ePHAC). With over 20 years’ of experience in science and technology, she has a background in bioinformatics and immunology. Lisa later moved into business development, commercialisation, and project management at CSIRO, working across mining, synthetic biology, and Data61. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons), a Master of Technology Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Science Communication.
Linda is PHA’s new IT Service Management Coordinator, bringing extensive experience in IT operations across industries like telecommunications, banking, and government. She has led major IT projects, product releases, and change processes, most recently in the energy sector. Known for her focus on continuous improvement and risk mitigation, Linda excels in aligning IT operations with business goals to ensure smooth service transitions and effective process enhancements.
Conrad is a HR practitioner with over 15 years' experience in the higher education, government and private sectors and has been appointed as PHA’s People and Culture Coordinator. Conrad has a degree in Communication Science and a postgraduate diploma in HR, along with further study in data analytics.
In October we bid farewell to Lizzie Howie, Marketing and Communications Officer. Since joining us in January this year, Lizzie has been an integral part of the Marcomms team. We wish her all the best for the future.
Out and about
PHA’s Digital Team held a planning session in Canberra in September to welcome new team members, align goals, and set a strategic direction.
PHA’s Dr Yvonne Ogaji caught up with Citrus Australia's Urban Biosecurity Coordinator, Jacqui Mitchell, during the Citrus Industry Familiarisation Tour.
At the end of September, PHA’s National Manager, Partnerships, Jonathan Terlich, and Project Officer, Surveillance, Dr Yvonne Ogaji, attended Citrus Australia's Citrus Industry Familiarisation Tour in Mildura.
Queensland’s Grains Biosecurity Officer (GBO), Adam Jalaludin, attended a Root-lesion Nematode and Fungal Soilborne Disease workshop at the University of Southern Queensland in September.
PHA’s CEO, Sarah Corcoran and National Manager, Preparedness and RD&E, Stuart Kearns, met with CIMMYT Director General, Bram Govaerts and Strategic Advisor Liesbet Vannyvel during their recent trip to Canberra.
PHA’s Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen attended the Hydroponic Farmers Federation and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s (DEECA) Information Day at AgriBio in Melbourne two weeks ago to discuss the implications of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit virus (ToBRFV) and next steps.
