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Hort Innovation News and events Media Releases Renewed funding for plant biosecurity research
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Renewed funding for plant biosecurity research

Publication date: 16 July 2020

Hort Innovation welcomes the announcement of the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative program renewal.

This week, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud backed the future for plant health research in Australia with the announcement that funding for the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) will be renewed in 2020, The International Year of Plant Health.

The PBRI members signed a collaboration agreement for a further three years to coordinate and support plant biosecurity research in Australia. The partnership includes Australia’s seven plant Research and Development Corporations, Plant Health Australia and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

PBRI Program Director Dr Jo Luck said “This announcement is a green light to continue to build on the important work  the PBRI has achieved through the collaboration of the RDCs with Plant Health Australia and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment”.

“We look forward to continuing to address the big issues affecting the biosecurity of Australia’s plant industries using world-class science and innovation”.

“The PBRI has been refunded in the UN-declared 2020 International Year of Plant Health, so we will continue to play a central role in promoting the global message of ‘Protecting Plants, Protecting Lives’ across Australia”

Since its inception in 2017, the PBRI has coordinated the funding of ten collaborative projects with a total value of $50 million, to support stronger biosecurity.

“In three years, we have coordinated investment of over $50 million, supporting biosecurity research for high priority pest threats such as Xylella, which affects over 500 plant species, Fall armyworm and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug” she said.

Large cross-sectoral biosecurity projects supported through the PBRI members include:

To find out more about PBRI visit: https://www.pbri.com.au/

Or to stay up to date with International Year of Plant Health activities visit: https://planthealthyear.org.au/