This investment, which ran from 2016 to 2021, reviewed and updated the onion industry’s biosecurity plan. By identifying, prioritising and looking at the management and surveillance of key biosecurity risks, the biosecurity plan provides a framework for risk mitigation, and for managing the impact of potential pest and disease incursions.

While the plan itself is a high-level decision-making document, for growers the project also produced a biosecurity manual detailing key exotic and endemic pests, weeds and diseases, and how to minimise the risk of them. The comprehensive document serves as a guide to on-farm biosecurity measures that can reduce the risks of pests, diseases, feral animals and weeds. It also includes information on biosecurity laws, key facts on pest and disease threats, and an easy-to-use biosecurity checklist.

For more information on how to use the guide, find a video here produced by the levy-funded communications project.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Onion Fund