Avocado industry biosecurity capacity and capability building: phase II (AV21003)

What's it all about?

This investment is bolstering biosecurity for the Australian avocado industry by monitoring and delivering new diagnostic protocols for key threats. By limiting the introduction or spread of new pests and pathogens, this project contributes to creating a sustainable avocado industry that can also use its’ enhanced knowledge of the endemic pests and pathogens to promote trade access overseas.

The key activities of this project are:

• Improving and rigorously validating existing diagnostic protocols to international standards for exotic pests and pathogens for the Australian avocado industry and extending this diagnostic capacity to a secondary centre in Perth.
  
  
• Developing and validating diagnostic protocols for two high priority exotic pests, the Persea mite Oligonychus perseae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the avocado seed moth Stenoma catenifer (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae).
  
  
• Validating and updating the national diagnostic protocol for laurel wilt.
  
  
• Identifying and monitoring emerging biosecurity threats, communicating knowledge through industry publications and establishing linkages with related biosecurity projects.
  
  
• Conducting surveys and identifying samples from growers and other industry stakeholders to scientifically underpin the pest free status of relevant pests and pathogens.