Biosecurity Alerts Factsheets, Templates & Webinars Crop Protection

AUSVEG’s project officers undertake a number of extension projects in the space of biosecurity and crop protection. These projects aim to improve the management of pests and increase the availability of best practice resources for Australian Vegetable growers. Core foci include biosecurity, sustainable growing and pest management solutions.

AUSVEG also publishes a biosecurity bulletin to keep industry up-to-date with all the latest biosecurity news, including research and development, pest alerts, and updates about upcoming workshops and events.

 

Use the form below to sign up to our biosecurity bulletin and get vital biosecurity updates as we release them!


 

Biosecurity

Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the vegetable industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to actively determine pests of high priority, analyse the risks they pose and implement procedures to reduce the chance of pests becoming established. AUSVEG is involved in a number of extension projects with a core biosecurity focus including:

Sustainable growing

Sustainable vegetable growing is integral to the success and future growth potential of the vegetable industry. AUSVEG strives to provide resources and advice on sustainable growing practices. Current projects include:

  • EnviroVeg Program – EnviroVeg is the Australian vegetable industry’s environmental program, which provides Australian vegetable growers with guidelines and information on how to manage their business in an environmentally responsible manner. A full description of EnviroVeg can be found here.

Pest management solutions

Pest management involves agrichemical, cultural, and biological control for the control of pests. More information can be found at crop information. Current projects include:

 

Project Officers

 

Callum Fletcher | Biosecurity Coordinator

Callum Fletcher joined AUSVEG in 2016 and holds the position of Biosecurity Coordinator. Previously, he worked in New Zealand as a researcher and agricultural industry consultant. Callum is a Masters graduate from the University of Canterbury and his skills include insect taxonomy and the plant pathology of a range of crop pests in cereals, potatoes and vegetables. He has specialist knowledge of many areas of the Zebra Chip complex, including morphological diagnostics of the Tomato potato psyllid.

Callum’s interests include cycling, camping and exploring his new home in Australia.

 

Madeleine Quirk | Project Officer

Maddy Quirk joined AUSVEG in September 2016. She currently holds the position of Biosecurity Officer working for the AUSVEG Farm Biosecurity Project, which is co-managed by Plant Health Australia and AUSVEG.

Maddy studied a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts at Monash University, majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology, Geography, and Indonesian Studies.

Maddy brings with her skills in science communication and extension, desktop research, scientific writing, and project administration.

Maddy enjoys travelling, skiing and playing footy.

 

Alan Nankivell | Tomato potato psyllid Program Coordinator

Alan Nankivell joined AUSVEG in October 2017. He holds the position of Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) Program Coordinator. Alan’s role involves acting as a central point and knowledge broker. He facilitates collaborations between researchers, industry groups, government, growers and service providers to aid in the development of guidelines for TPP management on-farm. Alan also works with the Government of Western Australia to support Transition to Management (T2M) activities.

Alan holds qualifications in Arts, Social Administration and Adult Education with majors in Organisational Management, Geography and Sociology. Alan has over 10 years’ experience in the biosecurity industry. He was CEO of Vine Health Australia from 2008 until 2016 and worked as Research Coordinator for PBCRC from 2016 until October 2017. His key skills include strategic planning, project coordination, and management.

Alan’s interests include farming and fixing anything!

 

Shakira Johnson | Adoption and Engagement Coordinator

Shakira joined AUSVEG in July 2018, and is currently coordinating adoption and engagement for iMapPESTS, a rural R & D project aimed at improving farm productivity with better plant pest management. She holds a bachelor of science with first class honours in molecular plant pathology and is currently finishing her Ph.D. on pear scab disease, supported by La Trobe University and the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre.

Shakira currently sits on the executive committee of the Victorian branch of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society, where she contributes to the organisation of networking events and the professional development of plant pathology students and early career researchers.

Her key skills include science communication, adult education, molecular biology, and plant-pathogen interactions.

Shakira’s interests include food, coffee, performance art and exploring weird and wonderful locations.

 

Zali Mahony | Biosecurity Officer

Zali has recently joined AUSVEG in 2021 and currently holds the position of Biosecurity Officer working on the Farm Biosecurity Project, aimed at helping improve farm preparedness to biosecurity risks and raising the awareness of potential biosecurity threats.

Zali studied a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Sydney, specialising in Entomology and received First Class Honours for her project looking at the interactions between non-native pine beetles, their fungal associates and pine trees in NSW forests.

She brings skills in scientific communication, field and desktop research and a passion for the horticultural industry.

Zali’s interests include AFL, house plants, and exploring her new home city, Melbourne.

 

Danielle Park | EnviroVeg Coordinator

Danielle Park is the project coordinator for the EnviroVeg project. She joined the AUSVEG team in 2019 to undertake the role of EnviroVeg Coordinator. Danielle’s role involves supporting new and returning EnviroVeg members, as they embark on the revised program as well as identifying both informal linkages with complementary organizations such as Landcare and natural resource authorities.

With over 20 years’ experience across a wide array of agricultural roles, including on-farm operations, state government agricultural extension, and market research, Danielle also has both a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honors at the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Business Administration through Charles Sturt University.