EDITION 14 | MARCH 2022
Message from the CEO
Welcome to the March edition of Tendrils!
The floods in New South Wales and Queensland (QLD) in the second month of 2022 has certainly brought about a new set of challenges not only for producers but for communities living in the affected areas. The Australian Government has activated support for these flood-affected communities, producers and non-profit organisations with a range of disaster relief and recovery packages.
Biosecurity project launched to support melon industry
Plant Health Australia (PHA) and Melons Australia have teamed up for a new one-year Melon Industry Extension for Biosecurity project to strengthen melon growers’ resilience in biosecurity response, recovery capacity and understanding of proactive on-farm biosecurity practices.
Farm Bio Project boosts biosecurity prep for veg
and spud industries
The AUSVEG Farm Biosecurity Project, a collaboration between AUSVEG and PHA, continues to improve preparedness and response capability to manage biosecurity risks for the vegetable and potato industries.
First PhD student at PIC@PEQ
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has welcomed the first PhD student Tom Farral to work at the Plant Innovation Centre at Post-Entry Quarantine (PIC@PEQ).
Fingerprinting high-risk
border pests
Mass spectrometry technology, that can identify microorganisms in under a minute, is being piloted by DAWE biosecurity scientists to more rapidly identify high-risk plant pathogens and mosquitoes intercepted at Australia’s borders.
ACT Environmental Grants Program
With $480,000 allocated across three funding streams, the ACT Environmental Grants Program provides an opportunity to address environmental issues, restore and conserve natural places and engage community members to do the same.
General surveillance program guidelines
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) recently released general surveillance program guidelines for program coordinators, funding and policy decision-makers and those responsible for monitoring and evaluating programs.
New Bee
Biosecurity Officers
Bee Biosecurity Officers (BBO’s) in each of the state departments help beekeepers prevent the spread of pests and diseases within their hives. We recently welcomed Samantha Grund in South Australia and Jess Bikaun in Western Australia to the BBO team.
A grower Pest ID tool
Quick identification and management of pests, diseases, and weeds is vital to maintaining a profitable plant production business. The Pest ID Tool provides growers with images and information to help identify and treat plant pest and diseases they may encounter.
Boosting grains biosecurity
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) recently released general surveillance program guidelines for program coordinators, funding and policy decision-makers and those responsible for monitoring and evaluating programs.
Fresh produce to focus on 4 fields
Through an extensive grassroots engagement and consultation process, the fresh produce sector and supply chain in Queensland has agreed on four key fields of strategic interest. Managing plant biosecurity risks using data intelligence and collaboration forms one of the key fields.
Latest from Prevent Fruit Fly
New off-farm fruit fly management resources
The NFFC has developed useful resources for local governments, fruit fly management groups, local community groups and the home gardener on how to control fruit fly at home.
National Fruit Fly Council Webinar
The National Fruit Fly Council is hosting a webinar on Interspecies Competition in fruit flies, 2pm-4pm AEDT, Monday 4 April 2022. The event is open to all via registration.
Latest from Farm Biosecurity
Six primary producers wanted
for the 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium
The Farm Biosecurity program is proud to announce we would like to fully fund and support six delegates to attend the 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium.
Farm biosecurity begins before the gate
When we talk about farm biosecurity, we almost always talk about it from an on-farm producer or growers’ perspective. However, as an agronomist, vet or contractor visiting multiple sites, you can unintentionally carry pests, diseases and weeds off the farm and between sites.
Out and about
Our CEO Sarah Corcoran and other panelists speaking on the ABARES Outlook 2022 'Future of Biosecurity' session earlier this month.
Our Learning and Development Officer Naomi Wynn attended the Nuffield Investor Appreciation Breakfast in QLD earlier this month. She is pictured with Jodie Redcliffe (Nuffield) and Bianca Cairns (Hort Innovation).
Staff movements
Welcome Kyra Murray
Kyra Murray joined PHA this month as a Project Officer in the Partnerships and Innovation team.
Prior to PHA, Kyra held various administrative roles from 2010 in Aviation, Legal and, most recently, Healthcare industries. Working in WA, NT and now in the ACT across private and state sectors and as a small business owner.
Farewell Rod Turner
After 20 years’ service with PHA, Rod Turner (General Manager Strategic Partnerships) will be taking a well-deserved break at the end this month before officially retiring in July.
Rod started at PHA in 2002 as a Program Manager. Prior to his time at PHA Rod worked at the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service in the management of AQIS’s Horticulture and Grains Import and Export Programs, the Post Entry Plant Program and managing AQIS’s field based plant pathologists and entomologists.
During his time at PHA, Rod was part of the team that developed the EPPRD, and worked on a number of projects including the formation of national committees, key industry strategies and biosecurity plans. More recently Rod was the PHA member of PHC, chair of SDQMA and the Australian Fruit Fly Advisory committee and participated as a member on a number of industry biosecurity committees.
We thank Rod for his valuable contribution to the plant biosecurity industry and wish him a happy retirement.
