Click to edit Sub-heading Reducing Pest Impacts on the Australian Vegetable Industry AUSVEG National Convention 16 April 2011

Outline  Plant Health Australia  Plant Biosecurity in Australia  Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed  Increasing Pest Threats  Risk Mitigation  Services for Members  What’s next for the Vegetable Industry

Plant Health Australia  National coordinator of government-industry partnership for plant biosecurity in Australia Established 2000 – not-for-profit company AUSVEG joined April Members  Service needs of Members – 42 Programs  Industry funding through AUSVEG Member subscription  Independently advocate on behalf of national plant biosecurity system

Plant Health Australia PHA’s efforts help to : Minimise plant pest impacts Enhance Australia’s plant health status Assist trade Safeguard growers’ livelihoods Support sustainability and profitability of industries Preserve environmental health and amenity

Strategy Plant Health Australia Strategic Objective to ensure that a strong biosecurity partnership with government and industry minimises pest impacts on Australia, enhances market access and contributes to industry and community sustainability Strengthen Partnerships Enhance Operation and Integrity of the EPPRD Assist Members Manage Biosecurity Risks Monitor and Promote Performance of Australia’s Plant Biosecurity System Determine Future Needs of Australia’s Plant Biosecurity System Facilitate Improved National Investment in Plant Biosecurity Strategic Plan Human Resource Management Communication Finance and Membership ProgramICT Supporting Operational Plans Operational Plans Annual Operational Plan Guides business to achieve strategic initiatives PHA Outcomes Implementation of the National Plant Biosecurity Strategy Effective management of incursions Member commitment to Biosecurity Plan implementation Improved Plant Biosecurity system Increased and diversified Membership Enhanced market access Industry members have PHA and EPPR levies in place Effective National investment in plant biosecurity

Plant Biosecurity in Australia  Biosecurity continuum Pre border Border Post border  Government-Industry Partnership  Prevention  Preparedness  Response  Recovery  Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed

Plant Biosecurity in Australia

Increasing Pest Threats

Fruit and Vegetable exports and imports Increasing Pest Threats

Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed  PHA custodians and signatory  All governments and 26 industries now signatories Vegetable Industry signatory through AUSVEG (20 November 2008)  Eradication responses mounted 3 times since EPPRD ratified Khapra beetle Myrtle rust Chestnut blight

Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed Obligations on all signatories  Ability to meet share of costs Commonwealth will underwrite industry  Industry must have mechanism to repay – EPPR levy Proposal for zero-based levy for vegetable industry currently being assessed  Training Vegetable Industry signatory through AUSVEG (20 Nov 2008)  High Priority Pests – categorisation  Owner Reimbursement Costs  Risk Mitigation

Risk Mitigation Commonwealth  Pre and post border  Trade agreements  Border interceptions and quarantine  NAQS State and Territories  Surveillance  Diagnostics  R&D  Pest containment and control

Risk Mitigation Industry - Biosecurity Planning  All Members  Vegetable Industry Biosecurity Plan version 2 launch – approved by Industry Advisory Committee and Plant Health Committee  Pest risk assessment – >800 pests, 8 high priority pests  Pest fact sheets  Risk mitigation plan

Risk Mitigation Contingency Planning  Potatoes - Zebra chip complex (January 2011) R&D  Biosecurity program managed by HAL – national R&D priority  R&D levy 0.5% of product value at first point of sale  2009 levy $6.48 million % biosecurity spend Training  Diagnostic protocols for exotic pests (e.g. Zebra chip) B

Risk Mitigation Biosecurity On-farm  Northern Adelaide Plains Biosecurity Manual (November 2010)  Bundaberg region Biosecurity Induction Manual (May 2010)  Bundaberg region community awareness brochure (May 2010)  Farm Biosecurity Program Promoting better biosecurity practices National awards Economic analysis – return on investment B

Services for Members National Plant Biosecurity Strategy  Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed  Follow agreed processes – preserve confidence and integrity  5 year Review National Fruit Fly Strategy  Action Plan - Benefit-cost study National Plant Health Status Report

Services for Members Pesticide Application & Spray Drift Management  APVMA no spray zones  Seek acceptance of practical risk management Dimethoate and Fenthion National Response Plan  APVMA Review due in 2011 Minor-use permits  Seeking certainty for emergency uses Training Supporting Industry Improve Biosecurity Practices

What Next? Action Items from Vegetable IBP  Peer review of threat assessment – fill knowledge gaps  Develop IBP for Asian leafy vegetables  Training industry EPPRD committee representatives and Industry Liaison Officers  Develop biosecurity awareness packages for growers  Investigate potential for low positive-rate levy to enable investment in biosecurity activities (as in the grains industry)  Emergency registration of chemicals for high priority pests

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