Plant Health Australia (PHA) launched an updated industry biosecurity plan for the nursery industry saying it is one of the most important biosecurity plans that it has developed, given production nurseries supply nursery stock to many other plant industries in Australia. Source: Timberbiz
Greg Fraser, PHA executive director and CEO, launched the plan at the joint Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria and International Plant Propagators Society Australia Conference in Melbourne.
Fraser told delegates that it was essential for the Australian nursery and garden industry to minimise risks posed by exotic pests and to respond effectively to any plant pest threats, to ensure its future viability and sustainability, as well as that of other plant industries.
“The industry is far broader than the home gardener perceives it to be,” Fraser said. “It supplies greenlife to a wide array of end users including the forestry sector, fruit orchardists, cut flower and vegetable growers, the revegetation and landcare sector as well as landscapers.
“I’m pleased to say that the Nursery and Garden Industry of Australia takes biosecurity seriously. This latest Industry biosecurity plan is the third version that has been prepared and it’s just one in a hierarchy of biosecurity documents that the nursery and garden industry has produced to better prepare itself for pest incursions.”
The plan provides the nursery and garden industry with a mechanism to identify exotic plant pests as well as the strengths and weaknesses in its current biosecurity activities.
It was developed in consultation with the Industry Biosecurity Group (IBG), a select group of plant health and biosecurity experts.
The IBG was coordinated by PHA and included representatives from Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and PHA.
As part of the plan, a list of more than 140 exotic plant pests that pose a biosecurity threat was developed. Each was given an overall risk rating based on four criteria: entry, establishment, spread potential, and economic impact. Through this process, and further consultation, the highest rated pests were identified and highlighted for future surveillance, and on-site biosecurity and awareness activities.
The plan also allows the identification of any gaps in biosecurity preparedness that can be addressed in future.
For more information on the plan contact Nursery and Garden Industry Australia.
