Citrus industry squeeze biosecurity issues

The Prime Minister recently announced the federal election will be held on 21 August. With less than a month until polling day, all parties are actively campaigning to the Australian community; fervently promoting policies their prospective party will administer if successful at the booths. Throughout the next few weeks, Citrus Australia will also be undertaking a lobbying effort targeting issues that affect the sustainability of their industry. In a Citrus Australia media release circulated last Tuesday, they have listed quarantine and biosecurity as critical to the sustainability of their industry. Key biosecurity points are:

• Commit to improving biosecurity and quarantine systems that increase the competitiveness and ensure the ongoing viability of the Australian citrus industry.
• Support increased training and surveillance for exotic and endemic pests.
• Support increased awareness and education.
• Support information and analysis obtained from pre-border, border and post-border biosecurity activities be made available for use by state and territory governments, industry and research organisations.
• Enhance government funding for activities which support biosecurity related technical market access.
• Support the implementation of the national fruit fly strategy.

Biosecurity is a critical issue for the citrus industry if they are to sustain their market access. A number of our fruit fly projects are co-funded by Horticulture Australia. These projects will provide benefits for the citrus industry, such as improved lures for trapping fruit flies, as well as a dynamic trapping system which will provide more cost-effective surveillance of fruit fly.

Through our current activities and future research (if our rebid is successful), we will continue to provide innovative R&D solutions which will enable the citrus industry to remain healthy and competitive in the market.

A copy of the Citrus Australia media release is available on their website.

Re-bid submitted

On 1 July 2010 our bid for an extension of eight years operating as the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre was submitted. As discussed in my column in the latest Leaflet, the Plant Biosecurity CRC will comprise of a mix of new and existing Participants from government departments, universities, grain companies, industry representative organisations, research organisations as well as international organisations who have a strong plant biosecurity focus.

This significant milestone could not be reached without the support of our Participants who recognise the need and demand for strong scientific research to underpin Australia’s plant biosecurity system. We also could not have achieved this without the skills and expertise of everyone who helped put together a strong and robust science program. I believe we have submitted a very strong bid which is now in the hands of the CRC Program Committee.
The Program Leaders for the new Plant Biosecurity CRC met last week to workshop ideas for a project for each program and to start building these ideas into a comprehensive project plan. We are required to have a full project developed for each program. (The Program Leaders and programs were announced in my column in the latest edition of The Leaflet – click here if you haven’t received your copy).

In mid-to-late August, the CRC Program will announce the shortlisted interview applicants. If we are successful at this stage, we will continue to refine the projects which will be presented at the interview.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the preparation of the bid. It has been very rewarding to see everyone come together sharing their ideas, skills and knowledge to build the programs and associated activities. I sincerely hope that I am able to share good news with you in August.