Plant Health Australia has been funded through the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan for stronger farmers and a stronger community, to develop a National Potato Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy.

The overarching aim of this project is to undertake surveillance pilots and consultation to support the development of a National Potato Industry Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy (NPIBSS) and its associated Implementation Plan. The strategy will provide:

• improved general and specific surveillance outcomes for potato production in both commercial and urban/peri-urban areas;
• improved grower capability to detect and report exotic pest incursions; and
• identification of issues and opportunities for the establishment of a national potato biosecurity surveillance program.

The NPIBSS will facilitate a coordinated and collaborative approach for biosecurity surveillance in Australian potato production to support both early detection of exotic pests relevant to the potato industry and pest status claims for market access.

To assist with the development of this strategy, which will primarily focus on commercial production as well as improve surveillance in urban and peri-urban communities, AUSVEG will be conducting surveillance pilots and two workshops to consult with all sectors of the potato industry (including the ware, processing and seed industries in relevant states and territories).

AUSVEG is calling for expressions of interest from potato growers to attend an industry consultation workshop on 1 May in Melbourne to discuss the potato industry’s biosecurity and surveillance needs. There may be some funding available for travel and accommodation for workshop participants.

To register your interest, please complete an expression of interest form here by 10 April 2019.

For more information please contact Zarmeen Hassan at zarmeen.hassan@ausveg.com.au, or on 0452 427 977.

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 26 March 2019 and 9 April 2019. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!