What is it all about?

This program will strengthen the Australian citrus industry's ability to prepare for and respond to exotic pests and diseases. Building on the previous CitrusWatch initiative, the project will expand surveillance, awareness and preparedness activities to address gaps in early detection, on-farm readiness and industry resilience.  

The program will deliver targeted surveillance in high-risk locations across Australia using volunteer trap networks, visual inspections and budstick sampling. It will also develop risk models for priority pests to help identify where they are most likely to establish and ensure surveillance activities are focused where they can have the greatest impact. Host lists, pest management guides and other preparedness resources will be developed to support industry planning and response activities.  

Growers will have access to updated online training, practical preparedness toolkits, record-keeping templates and biosecurity resources designed to improve on-farm readiness and business resilience. Workshops, webinars, factsheets and community awareness activities will help growers, industry stakeholders and community members recognise and report unusual pests or symptoms. The project will also strengthen collaboration across industry, government and community networks to support a coordinated national approach to citrus biosecurity.  

Together, these activities aim to maintain a coordinated, risk-based surveillance program, improve awareness and preparedness across the industry, expand pest preparedness resources, and strengthen the Australian citrus industry's ability to respond to and recover from exotic pest incursions.