Building capacity in irradiation – pathways for export (AM19002)
What’s it all about?
This investment is addressing the gaps in Australia’s knowledge of disinfestation using irradiation, which is the preferred phytosanitary treatment for many of our export partners. Irradiation typically produces a higher quality product and is effective against all insect pests.
In the last 18 months, the project team have collaborated with experts from Australia, France, and New Zealand to enhance the capacity of industry, government, and retail sectors. The project has completed literature reviews on several aspects related to phytosanitary irradiation, including pest mortality, plant disease transmission, and post-treatment effects on product quality and shelf life.
The project team conducted national and international workshops in 2022 to address regulatory, cultural, and commercial barriers and promote the adoption of phytosanitary irradiation. This included:
- A national workshop held in Melbourne on September 15, 2022, bringing together growers, exporters, regulators, retailers, and researchers to discuss phytosanitary irradiation.
- International Phytosanitary Irradiation Platform (PSiP) forum held in Bangkok on November 8-9, 2022, bringing together participants from over 20 countries to discuss phytosanitary irradiation and market access.
The project has ongoing research components, such as reporting efficacy data for irradiation of Vineyard Snail and conducting post-irradiation quality assessment for selected horticultural commodities. The team plans to complete technical reports and develop a roadmap to address regulatory, commercial, and cultural barriers in the final six months of the project.