What was it all about?

To ensure its future viability and sustainability, it’s vital that the Australian pineapple industry minimises the risks posed by exotic pests and can respond effectively to plant pest threats. To safeguard the industry, this project developed The Biosecurity Plan for the Pineapple Industry, a framework to coordinate biosecurity activities and investment.

The plan, published in 2016, provides a mechanism for industry, government and other stakeholders to better prepare for, and respond to, incursions of pests that could have significant impact on the pineapple industry. It also aims to assist pineapple producers to evaluate the biosecurity risks within their everyday farming and business activities, appreciate the threat posed by exotic plant pests (not currently present in Australia), and focus on future biosecurity challenges.

The plan was developed by an industry biosecurity group of experts from government and industry, coordinated by Plant Health Australia.

Threat summary tables –a list of over 110 exotic plant pests and the potential biosecurity threat that they represent to the Australian pineapple industry – were compiled, to give an overall risk rating of each pest based on four criteria: entry, establishment, spread potential, and economic impact.

The plan also details current risk mitigation and surveillance activities being undertaken, and identified contingency plans, fact sheets and diagnostic protocols that have been developed for pests relevant to the pineapple industry.

This enabled gaps to be identified and risk mitigation actions to be prioritised, as listed in the Biosecurity Implementation Table.

ACT NOW

Further information on the current biosecurity plan for the pineapple industry can be found on the Plant Health Australia (PHA) website. You can order a copy by contacting PHA on 02 6215 7700 or at admin@phau.com.au.